Unstable Nuclei and Radioactive Decay

What two subatomic particles are found in an atom's nucleus?

• Protons and neutrons

• neutrons and electrons

• electrons and protons

What does the graph show is needed to keep the nucleus stable?

• As protons increases, more neutrons are needed.

• As protons increases, less neutrons are needed.

• As neutrons increase, less protons are needed.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is likely to happen to unstable nuclei with too many, or too few, neutrons?

• They will decay by emitting radiation.

• They will loose all their electrons.

• They will bond with other atoms.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What could an unstable nucleus emit?

• Alpha, gamma, beta, and sometimes a neutron.

• Alpha, beta, gamma, and sometimes delta

• Alpha, beta, delta, and sometimes gamma

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

If the nucleus has too few neutrons, it will emit two protons and two neutrons called ___________.

• an alpha particle

• a beta particle

• a neutron

• gamma radiation

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Alpha decay causes the mass number of the nucleus to decrease by ________ and the atomic number of the nucleus to decrease by _______.

• four, two

• two, four

• one, two

• two, three

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which symbol(s) represent an alpha particle?

• yellow

• blue

• red

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which symbol(s) represent an beta particle?

• yellow

• blue

• red

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which symbol(s) represent gamma radiation?

• yellow

• blue

• red

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

If the nucleus has too many neutrons, a neutron will turn into a proton and emit a fast-moving electron. This process is known as ___________.

• alpha radiation

• beta radiation

• gamma radiation

• neutron radiation

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8