Question 1

Identify the radioactive green light that glows in the dark.

Accepted Answer

Phosphorescence is the emission of light after being irradiated, and it is what causes objects to glow in the dark, such as certain paints, dyes, or materials. Radioactivity is the emission of particles or radiation from a nucleus and usually refers to the emission of alpha, beta, or gamma rays. Phenol red is a chemical indicator used in laboratory experiments to detect the acidity of solutions. Desensitivity is not a scientific term. Argon is an inert gas commonly used in gas-filled light bulbs but does not glow in the dark.

Question 2

Determine the binding energy of an O-16 nucleus.The O-16 nucleus has a mass of 15.9905 amu.A proton has a mass of 1.00728 amu,a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 amu,and 1 amu is equivalent to 931 MeV of energy.

Accepted Answer

The binding energy of a nucleus can be calculated using the formula: $$BE = \left( Zm_p + Nm_n - M \right) \times 931 \, \text{MeV}$$ where $Z$ is the number of protons, $N$ is the number of neutrons, $m_p$ is the mass of a proton, $m_n$ is the mass of a neutron, $M$ is the mass of the nucleus, and 931 MeV is the energy equivalent of 1 amu. For an O-16 nucleus, $Z = 8$ (since it's oxygen), $N = 8$ (since it's O-16, meaning 16 total nucleons minus 8 protons gives 8 neutrons), $m_p = 1.00728 \, \text{amu}$, $m_n = 1.008665 \, \text{amu}$, and $M = 15.9905 \, \text{amu}$. Plugging these values into the formula gives: $$BE = \left( 8 \times 1.00728 + 8 \times 1.008665 - 15.9905 \right) \times 931 = 128 \, \text{MeV}$$

Question 3

Identify the radiotracer used to study the thyroid.

Accepted Answer

The radiotracer used to study the thyroid is iodine-131, which is taken up by the thyroid gland and used in the production of thyroid hormones. This makes it an ideal radiotracer for studying thyroid function and identifying any abnormalities or disorders.

Question 4

In a linear accelerator,

Accepted Answer

In a linear accelerator, a charged particle (usually an electron) is accelerated in an evacuated tube using electromagnetic fields. The particle receives energy from the fields and gains speed and kinetic energy as it travels down the tube. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 5

Determine the binding energy per nucleon of an Mg-24 nucleus.The Mg-24 nucleus has a mass of 23.985045.A proton has a mass of 1.00728 amu,a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 amu,and 1 amu is equivalent to 931.5 MeV of energy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Determine the binding energy per nucleon of...

Question 6

In a cyclotron,

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a cyclotron,
...

Question 7

Identify the part of the body that can be studied with radiotracers.

Accepted Answer

Radiotracers can be used to study various parts of the body such as the spleen, brain, heart, and tumors. Therefore, all of the above options (A, B, C, and D) are correct.

Question 8

Identify the radiotracer used to study problems with blood.

Accepted Answer

Iron-59 is used in medicine to study blood volume and to trace disturbances in iron metabolism, making it the correct choice for studying problems with blood.

Question 9

Identify an alpha particle.

Accepted Answer

Alpha particles are helium nuclei with two protons and two neutrons, so the correct choice is D which has the symbol for helium (He) in its ID. A, B, C, and E are not alpha particles.

Question 10

Define transmutation.

Accepted Answer

Transmutation refers to the transformation of one element into another by altering the number of protons in the nucleus. This can occur through natural radioactive decay or by bombarding atoms with high-energy particles in a laboratory setting. Choices B, C, and E refer to different types of nuclear reactions but not transmutation specifically, and choice D is not possible as the loss of protons would change the element itself and result in transmutation.

Question 11

Calculate the mass defect in Ni-59 if the mass of a Ni-59 nucleus is 58.69344 amu.The mass of a proton is 1.00728 amu and the mass of a neutron is 1.008665 amu.

Accepted Answer

First, we need to calculate the total mass of Ni-59 nucleus:

total mass = number of protons x mass of a proton + number of neutrons x mass of a neutron
total mass = 28 x 1.00728 amu + 31 x 1.008665 amu
total mass = 28.18064 amu + 31.26822 amu
total mass = 59.44886 amu

The mass defect is the difference between the total mass and the mass of the Ni-59 nucleus:

mass defect = 59.44886 amu - 58.69344 amu
mass defect = 0.75542 amu

Therefore, the best choice is B) 0.779 amu, which is the closest value to the calculated mass defect.

Question 12

Identify the lowest natural radiation.

Accepted Answer

The lowest natural radiation is the radiation received during a five-hour jet airplane ride. This is because at high altitudes, there is less shielding from the Earth's atmosphere and cosmic radiation, resulting in a slightly elevated radiation dose. However, the dose received during a single airplane ride is still very low and not considered harmful to passengers.

Question 13

The combination of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus is called

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion is the combination of two lighter nuclei into a heavier nucleus, releasing a vast amount of energy. This process is the fundamental source of energy in the sun and other stars. Option A, B, D, and E are incorrect as they do not describe the specific process of combining nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

Question 14

Which particle changes the mass of the isotope the most?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which particle changes the mass of the...

Question 15

A hydrogen bomb has up to ________ times the explosive force of the first atomic bomb.

Accepted Answer

A hydrogen bomb has up to 1000 times the explosive force of the first atomic bomb.

Question 16

Identify the highest natural radiation.

Accepted Answer

Radon gas is the highest source of natural radiation exposure for most people. It is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water and can accumulate in homes and buildings.

Question 17

Determine the binding energy of an F-19 nucleus.The F-19 nucleus has a mass of 18.99840325 amu.A proton has a mass of 1.00728 amu,a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 amu,and 1 amu is equivalent to 931 MeV of energy.

Accepted Answer

The binding energy is calculated by finding the mass defect and converting it to energy. The mass defect is the difference between the sum of the masses of the protons and neutrons and the actual mass of the nucleus. For F-19, the mass defect is (9*1.00728 + 10*1.008665 - 18.99840325) amu = 0.1565 amu. Converting this to energy gives 0.1565 amu * 931 MeV/amu = 145.6 MeV, which is closest to 143 MeV.

Question 18

Give the conditions for nuclear fusion.

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion requires a high temperature, typically millions of degrees Celsius, to overcome the repulsion between positively charged atomic nuclei and bring them close enough together for the strong nuclear force to bind them together. The other options (A, B, C, and D) are not necessary conditions for nuclear fusion.

Question 19

Identify the radiotracer used to for PET studies of the heart.

Accepted Answer

Fluorine-18 is commonly used as a radiotracer for PET studies of the heart, as it can be easily incorporated into glucose molecules and thus used to visualize myocardial glucose metabolism.

Question 20

Which particle changes the mass of the isotope the least?

Accepted Answer

Gamma emission involves the release of a high-energy photon from the nucleus, which does not affect the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus. Therefore, the mass of the isotope remains unchanged, making it the choice that changes the mass of the isotope the least.

Quiz 20: Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry