Question 1

Which is the explanation for the difference between the two isotopes of carbon, C-12 and C-14?
A)C-14 contains 2 more protons than does C-12.
B)C-14 contains 1 proton and 1 neutron more than does C-12.
C)C-14 contains 2 more neutrons than does C-12.
D)C-14 contains 2 more electrons than does C-12.

Accepted Answer

Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons. C-14 has 2 more neutrons than C-12, making them isotopes of carbon.

Question 2

The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the isotope  is _____ .
A)11
B)22
C)12
D)32

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

Which of the following consists of a stream of charged particles?
A)alpha rays
B)beta rays
C)gamma rays
D)More than one response is correct.

Accepted Answer

Alpha rays and beta rays consist of charged particles; alpha rays are positively charged helium nuclei, and beta rays are either electrons or positrons, which are negatively or positively charged, respectively. Gamma rays, however, are electromagnetic radiation and do not consist of charged particles.

Question 4

Sodium-24 has a half-life of 15.0 hours. Suppose you had a sample containing 0.010 moles of Na-24. How many hours would be required to reduce your sample to 6.25 × 10^{− 4} moles? A)120 B)60 C)45 D)30

Accepted Answer

The sample reduces to 6.25 × 10^−4 moles, which is 1/16th of the original amount. This requires 4 half-lives (since 1/2^4 = 1/16). Each half-life is 15 hours, so 4 half-lives take 60 hours.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a nuclear reaction?
A)fusion
B)radioactive decay
C)fission
D)redox

Accepted Answer

Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between two species and are chemical reactions, not nuclear reactions. Fusion, radioactive decay, and fission all involve changes in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 6

What is the nuclear composition of  ?
A)12 neutrons and 28 protons
B)12 neutrons and 16 protons
C)12 protons and 28 neutrons
D)12 protons and 16 neutrons

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the nuclear composition of ...

Question 7

Carbon-14 dating is a useful tool for determining the age of the artifacts of ancient civilizations. However, when future archeologists study ruins of our civilization, they obtain confusing results -- with some artifacts dating MUCH older than others. Which of the following would be an explanation for these results?
A)Variations in the Sun's intensity and production of cosmic rays.
B)Ecosystem changes resulting in a reduction in carbon based life.
C)The use of petroleum based synthetic materials.
D)None of the choices.

Accepted Answer

The use of petroleum-based synthetic materials would lead to confusing results in carbon-14 dating because these materials are made from ancient carbon, which has little to no carbon-14 remaining. This would make artifacts made from or containing these materials appear much older than they actually are when dated using carbon-14 methods.

Question 8

The greatest threat posed by a nuclear (fission)power plant is
A)release of radioactive isotopes when the molten core reaches the water table.
B)fish kills resulting from use of local rivers for cooling.
C)having the core melt, ultimately reaching China.
D)thermonuclear detonation.

Accepted Answer

The greatest threat posed by a nuclear (fission) power plant is the release of radioactive isotopes, which can occur if the molten core reaches the water table, leading to widespread environmental contamination.

Question 9

Which of the responses represent the missing particle in the following reaction? 
A) 
B) 
C) 
D)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the responses represent the missing...

Question 10

is an alpha emitter. What is the element produced by the decay of Np-237?
A)U
B)Pa
C)Th
D)Pu

Accepted Answer

The answer of  is an alpha emitter. What is...

Question 11

Which of the following are made up of particles identical to electrons?
A)alpha rays
B)beta rays
C)gamma rays
D)more than one response is correct

Accepted Answer

Beta rays are composed of beta particles, which are identical to electrons in terms of mass and charge. Alpha rays consist of helium nuclei, and gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation, not particles.

Question 12

Nuclear emissions are passed through a tunnel that has a positive plate on the top and a negative plate on the bottom. Which of the following emissions is deflected the greatest by the electrical field?
A)α particles
B)β particles
C)neutrons
D)γ rays

Accepted Answer

β particles (beta particles) are deflected the most by an electric field because they are high-speed electrons with a relatively low mass and a single negative charge, making them highly susceptible to electromagnetic forces. α particles, being positively charged but much more massive, are deflected less. Neutrons, being neutral, are not deflected by electric fields. γ rays, being electromagnetic radiation, are also not deflected by electric fields.

Question 13

Which of the following would have the least penetrating power into matter?
A)alpha particles
B)beta particles
C)gamma rays
D)neutrons

Accepted Answer

Alpha particles have the least penetrating power into matter because they are relatively large and carry a +2 charge, making them more likely to interact with and be stopped by atoms and molecules in the material they encounter.

Question 14

Tritium has a half-life of 12.5 years. If you had a sample of 8.00 grams of tritium today, how many grams of tritium would you have in 37.5 years?
A)8.00 g
B)4.00 g
C)2.00 g
D)1.00 g

Accepted Answer

Tritium has a half-life of 12.5 years, so in 37.5 years (which is 3 half-lives), the amount of tritium would be reduced to 1/8 of the original amount. Starting with 8.00 grams, after 3 half-lives, you would have 1.00 gram remaining.

Question 15

You inject a 160 lb male patient with 1.0 ml of a saline solution containing a radioactive form of sodium. It has an activity of 5.0 × 10⁴ dpm. After allowing sufficient time for the solution to mix, you remove a 1.0 ml sample of blood and measure its radioactivity. You discover it to have an activity of 11 dpm. What is the patient's blood volume? (Hint: this is similar to a M₁V₁ = M₂V₂ type problem.) A)2.2 liters B)3.5 liters C)4.6 liters D)7.0 liters

Accepted Answer

The answer of You inject a 160 lb male patient...

Question 16

Which of the nuclear emissions is of the greatest mass?
A)α particles
B)β particles
C)neutrons
D)positrons

Accepted Answer

Alpha particles have the greatest mass among the options listed because they consist of two protons and two neutrons, making them significantly heavier than beta particles, neutrons, or positrons.

Question 17

Which of the following is not attracted or repelled by electrical charges?
A)alpha rays
B)beta rays
C)gamma rays
D)More than one response is correct.

Accepted Answer

Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation, not particles with charge, so they are not influenced by electric or magnetic fields. Alpha and beta rays, being charged particles (helium nuclei and electrons, respectively), are affected by electrical charges.

Question 18

Which of the following types of radiation is composed of particles which carry a negative charge?
A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)positron

Accepted Answer

Beta radiation consists of beta particles, which are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons. When the question specifies a negative charge, it refers to the electrons emitted during beta decay, thus making beta radiation the correct choice.

Question 19

An individual would have to work from behind a special, thick protective wall when which kind of an emitter is involved?
A)alpha
B)beta
C)gamma
D)free radicals

Accepted Answer

Gamma rays have high penetration power and can pass through the human body and thick materials, requiring special, thick protective walls to shield from their radiation. Alpha and beta particles have much lower penetration power, and free radicals are not a form of radiation.

Question 20

The decay of  to  occurs through the emission of
A)an alpha particle.
B)a beta particle.
C)a positron.
D)a proton.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The decay of  to  occurs...

Quiz 10: Radioactivity and Nuclear Processes

Which is the explanation for the difference between the two isotopes of carbon, C-12 and C-14?

The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the isotope is _____ .

Which of the following consists of a stream of charged particles?

Sodium-24 has a half-life of 15.0 hours. Suppose you had a sample containing 0.010 moles of Na-24. How many hours would be required to reduce your sample to 6.25 × 10 − 4 moles?

Which of the following is not a nuclear reaction?

What is the nuclear composition of ?

The greatest threat posed by a nuclear (fission) power plant is

Which of the responses represent the missing particle in the following reaction?

is an alpha emitter. What is the element produced by the decay of Np-237?

Which of the following are made up of particles identical to electrons?

Nuclear emissions are passed through a tunnel that has a positive plate on the top and a negative plate on the bottom. Which of the following emissions is deflected the greatest by the electrical field?

Which of the following would have the least penetrating power into matter?

Tritium has a half-life of 12.5 years. If you had a sample of 8.00 grams of tritium today, how many grams of tritium would you have in 37.5 years?

Which of the nuclear emissions is of the greatest mass?

Which of the following is not attracted or repelled by electrical charges?

Which of the following types of radiation is composed of particles which carry a negative charge?

An individual would have to work from behind a special, thick protective wall when which kind of an emitter is involved?

The decay of to occurs through the emission of

Sodium-24 has a half-life of 15.0 hours. Suppose you had a sample containing 0.010 moles of Na-24. How many hours would be required to reduce your sample to 6.25 × 10^{− 4} moles?