Atomic Structure

Question 1

Which subatomic particle was discovered next after the electron?

Answer 1

proton

Question 2

Can electromagnetic radiation affect the electron arrangement of an atom?

Answer 2

yes

Question 3

What idea did Niels Bohr contribute to the nuclear model of the atom?

Answer 3

electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances

Question 4

What name is given to atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons?

Answer 4

isotopes

Question 5

Which metal is used for containers that store radioactive sources?

Answer 5

lead

Question 6

James Chadwick discovered evidence of what part of an atom?

Answer 6

neutron

Question 7

True or false? Most of an atom is empty space.

Answer 7

true

Question 8

In the plum pudding model of the atom, what subatomic particle is the equivalent of a raisin in a plum pudding?

Answer 8

electron

Question 9

If an atom absorbs electromagnetic radiation, its electrons can move to a __________ energy level. Which word completes the sentence?

Answer 9

higher

Question 10

Atoms form ions by transferring which type of atomic particle?

Answer 10

electrons

Question 11

The discovery of the electron disproved the idea that atoms were tiny spheres that couldn’t be… what?

Answer 11

divided

Question 12

When did James Chadwick discover evidence to show the existence of the neutron?

Answer 12

1932

Question 13

Name the particle that an atom can lose or gain in order to form a charged ion.

Answer 13

electron

Question 14

What is the overall electrical charge of an atom with an equal number of protons and electrons?

Answer 14

0

Question 15

Will two different isotopes of the same element have the same mass number?

Answer 15

no

Question 16

Think of Rutherford’s experiment. Most alpha particles passed straight through, but a few were repelled so strongly that they were bounced back or deflected at large angles. This led Rutherford to conclude that the charge of the nucleus of an atom must be… what?

Answer 16

positively charged

Question 17

If an atom emits electromagnetic radiation, its electrons can move to a __________ energy level.

Answer 17

lower

Question 18

The discovery of which subatomic particle led to the plum pudding model of the atom?

Answer 18

electron

Question 19

In an atom, the number of protons is always equal to the number of… what?

Answer 19

electrons

Question 20

Will two different isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number?

Answer 20

yes

Question 21

In an atom the number of electrons is always equal to the number of __________.

Answer 21

protons

Question 22

True or false? In the plum pudding model of the atom, the atom is a ball of positive charge with electrons surrounding it.

Answer 22

false

Question 23

True or false? It is not possible to predict when a particular atom of a radioactive substance will undergo decay.

Answer 23

true

Question 24

Name the type of radiation given out by radioactive substances that is the most ionising.

Answer 24

alpha

Question 25

What is the name given to an isotope if its nucleus is unstable?

Answer 25

radioactive

Question 26

Name the type of nuclear radiation that is used in smoke alarms.

Answer 26

alpha

Question 27

What is the charge on an alpha particle?

Answer 27

2

Question 28

An alpha particle has the same structure as the nucleus of which element?

Answer 28

helium

Question 29

The activity of a radioactive isotope decreases over time. The time it takes to decay depends on its __________-life.

Answer 29

half

Question 30

True or false? Gamma radiation can be deflected.

Answer 30

false

Question 31

True or false? All isotopes are radioactive.

Answer 31

false

Question 32

Name the type of radiation that has the greatest range in air.

Answer 32

gamma

Question 33

Gamma radiation is a type of __________ radiation of a very high frequency.

Answer 33

electromagnetic

Question 34

Which type of ionising radiation has no charge?

Answer 34

gamma

Question 35

Which type of ionising radiation is the most dangerous if swallowed?

Answer 35

alpha

Question 36

What name is given to the time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay?

Answer 36

half-life

Question 37

Name the radiation emitted from radioactive materials that is a high-energy electromagnetic wave.

Answer 37

gamma

Question 38

A Geiger-Muller (GM) tube can be used to detect ionising radiation. How many alpha particles entering the GM tube are needed to make the counter advance by on?

Answer 38

1

Question 39

Gamma ray radiation consists of high energy __________ waves.

Answer 39

electromagnetic

Question 40

Beta radiation consists of what type of sub-atomic particle?

Answer 40

electrons

Question 41

How many neutrons does an alpha particle contain?

Answer 41

2

Question 42

What unit of radioactivity is being described here? "The activity of a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second."

Answer 42

becquerel

Question 43

True or false? 10 g of a radioactive isotope has an activity of 15 Bq. Therefore it can be predicted that 20 g of the same isotope will have an activity of 30 Bq.

Answer 43

true

Question 44

How many electrons does an alpha particle contain?

Answer 44

0

Question 45

Name the radiation emitted from radioactive materials that consists of high speed helium nuclei.

Answer 45

alpha

Question 46

True or false? Beta particles come from the electron shells surrounding a radioactive nucleus.

Answer 46

false

Question 47

An underground pipe is suspected to contain a blockage. A radioactive tracer is put into the pipe to assess the situation. Which of the following best explains why a tracer that gives off gamma radiation should be chosen?

Answer 47

gamma radiation can pass through the pipe and ground to reach the detector

Question 48

Beta particle radiation consists of high speed __________.

Answer 48

electrons

Question 49

Gamma rays are given out from the __________ of radioactive atoms.

Answer 49

nuclei

Question 50

Which type of radiation emitted by radioactive atoms has the least ionising power?

Answer 50

gamma

Question 51

Which is the most dangerous radiation at a distance?

Answer 51

gamma

Question 52

Ionising radiation is emitted all the time by __________ sources.

Answer 52

radioactive

Question 53

Name the type of radiation that can travel only a few centimetres through the air.

Answer 53

alpha

Question 54

True or false? If an alpha particle transfers sufficient energy to an atom, that atom may eject an electron and become a positively charged ion.

Answer 54

true

Question 55

Name the radiation emitted from radioactive materials that consists of high speed electrons.

Answer 55

beta

Question 56

There are three main types of radiation emitted by radioactive atoms: alpha, beta and... what?

Answer 56

gamma

Question 57

What name is given to the process by which radioactive atoms break down and change into a different type of atom?

Answer 57

radioactive

Question 58

How many protons does an alpha particle contain?

Answer 58

2

Question 59

Should radioactive tracers used for medical diagnosis have a short or a long half-life?

Answer 59

short

Question 60

An underground pipe is suspected to contain a blockage. A radioactive tracer is put into the pipe to assess the situation. What type of radiation will be given off by this tracer?

Answer 60

gamma

Question 61

Substances that give out radiation from the nuclei of their atoms all the time are said to be... what?

Answer 61

radioactive

Question 62

It is important for the findings of studies into the effects of radiation on humans to be shared with other scientists so that the findings can be checked by peer __________.

Answer 62

review

Question 63

True or false? Gamma irradiation of food causes some of the atoms in the food to become radioactive.

Answer 63

false

Question 64

If humans are exposed to radiation, this can cause a change in their DNA base sequence. What is the term given to this?

Answer 64

mutation

Question 65

What happens to a person's risk of cancer as the amount of time they are exposed to radiation increases?

Answer 65

it increases

Question 66

Radioactive sources for use in school experiments are always stored in a container lined with which metal?

Answer 66

lead

Question 67

What is it called when an unwanted material that contains radioactive atoms is present on another material?

Answer 67

radioactive contamination

Question 68

Which type of ionising radiation is most penetrating?

Answer 68

gamma

Question 69

Sam says that beta particles are not used to irradiate food because they make it radioactive. Jo says that the reason is that beta particles would not be able to penetrate all the way through thick packages of food. Who is correct, Sam or Jo?

Answer 69

Jo

Question 70

True or false? Radioactive sources should never be touched by hand.

Answer 70

true

Question 71

What is the name of the medical condition humans can get that involves uncontrolled cell division if they are exposed to too much ionising radiation over a period of time?

Answer 71

cancer

Question 72

True or false? When an object is exposed to nuclear radiation, the irradiated object does not become radioactive.

Answer 72

true

Question 73

True or false? It is safe to handle sources of alpha particles with bare hands as the radiation only travels a few mm in air.

Answer 73

false

Question 74

What is the name of the process where an object is exposed to nuclear radiation?

Answer 74

irradiation

Question 75

What piece of equipment should be used to handle radioactive sources?

Answer 75

tongs