c4 practise test Flashcards
What does relative atomic mass mean about the abundance of isotopes
isotopes have different abundance, Ram is just a weighted average
How is gamma radiation used in cancer treatment
Helps diagnose Gamma rays penetrate from the area to the detector
Explain how the fission leads to a chain reaction, and why it must be controlled in a nuclear reactor.
The atom absorbs a neutron, splitting in to smaller nuclei. This releases more electrons which can trigger fission of other atoms continuing the chain.
if uncontrolled explosion could occur,
How does radiation from a banana compare to microwave and phone
Banna is beta ionising radiation
Microwave and phone are electromagnetic radiation non ionising
how is beta radiation used in cancer treatment
Beta particle is high ionising so able to destroy cancer cells
but low penetration means other healthy tissue is safe
Practical use of alpha radiation
smoke detectors
Low penetration allows the radiation to be contained in the smoke alarm
alpha is also highly ionising so it reacts to the smoke quickly
(a) Mass spectrometry is the process using a magnetic field to separate the ions of substances based on their mass. Explain how this works.
In mass spectrometry, atoms or molecules are ionized to form charged particles. These ions are accelerated through an electric field and then enter a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes the ions to move in circular paths. Lighter ions curve more, and heavier ions curve less, because the radius of their path depends on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). By measuring the curvature, the mass of the ions can be determined.
Silver (Ag) is exposed to beta radiation and converted to a silver ion (Ag+). Write an equation to show this process and explain how this has occurred.
Equation:
Ag → Ag⁺ + e⁻
Explanation:
When silver is exposed to beta radiation, it absorbs energy. This energy can eject one of silver’s outer electrons, creating a positively charged ion (Ag⁺). The beta radiation doesn’t change the nucleus in this case—it just knocks off an electron from the atom, resulting in ionization.
