Nuclear Chemistry Review

Which type of radioactive decay will not change the identity of the atom?

• Beta decay

• Alpha decay

• Gamma decay

• All of these change the identity of the atom

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

An atom of ⁶⁹Zn undergoes beta decay.  What will the resulting isotope be?

• copper-69

• nickel-65

• gallium-68

• gallium-69

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

An atom of Uranium-237 undergoes alpha decay.  Give the name (element-#) of the daughter isotope produced.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

When an atom undergoes alpha decay, the mass number ____________________ and the atomic number _____________.

• stays the same; increases by 1

• stays the same; stays the same

• decreases by 2; decreases by 2

• 
  decreases by 4; decreases by 2

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How do radioisotopes change over time?

• They gain stability and stop emitting radiation.

• They remain unchanged but move to a higher energy state.

• They spontaneously change into other isotopes.

• They dissolve into subatomic particles.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is the half-life of a radioactive element?

• How old it is when it is middle aged

• The time it takes for half of the atoms to decay

• The time it takes for half of the atom to form

• How old it is when the Earth is middle aged

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Why is it difficult to transform mercury into gold by changing the number of protons in its nucleus?

• The nucleus is not stable enough

• The atomic mass is too high

• The nucleus of a stable atom is very strongly bound

• Gold and mercury are inert elements

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Why does an atom undergo beta decay?

• It has too many electrons.

• It has an atomic number greater than 83

• It has more neutrons than protons

• It has more protons than neutrons

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Colorless, odorless gas that is a naturally occurring decay product of uranium

• asbestos

• radon

• lead

• carbon monoxide

• formaldehyde

The half-life of cadmium-109 is 464 days. A scientist measures out a 256.0 gram (g) sample. Approximately how many grams of cadmium-109 would remain after 1,392 days?

• A. 32.0 g

• B. 64.0 g

• C. 2,048.0 g

• D. 1,024.0 g