PRETES Quiz on Atomic Structure

What are the three main subatomic particles in an atom?

• Protons, electrons, ions

• Protons, neutrons, electrons

• Neutrons, photons, electrons

• Atoms, nuclei, electrons

Which part of the atom is involved in radioactive decay?

• Electrons

• Neutrons only

• Nucleus

• Electron cloud

What is the charge of a neutron?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• It depends on the atom

What is meant by the term "isotope"?

• Atoms with different numbers of electrons

• Atoms of different elements with similar mass

• Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

• Atoms with different numbers of protons

Which of the following best describes a radioactive substance?

• An atom with balanced protons and neutrons

• An atom that gives off sound

• An unstable nucleus that emits radiation

• An atom that reacts with oxygen

What is the atomic number of an element?

• Number of neutrons in the atom

• Number of protons in the nucleus

• Total number of particles in the atom

• Mass of the atom in grams

Which type of radiation has the greatest penetrating power?

• Alpha radiation

• Beta radiation

• Gamma radiation

• Neutron radiation

What happens to an atom when it emits an alpha particle?

• Its atomic number increases by 2

• Its mass number stays the same

• It loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons

• It gains energy

Which of the following is not a cause of radioactivity in a nucleus?

• Neutron-proton imbalance

• Too much nuclear energy

• Stable arrangement of particles

• Too many protons in the nucleus

What does the mass number of an atom represent?

• The number of protons only

• The number of electrons and protons

• The total number of protons and neutrons

• The number of neutrons only