Deck 8: Nuclear Chemistry

Question 1

Which of these scientists characterized and began to explain radioactivity?

A) Becquerel
B) Curie
C) Einstein
D) Rutherford
E) Thompson

Answer 1

Rutherford

Question 2

Radioactivity results from the decay of unstable _____.

A) electrons
B) light nuclei
C) heavy nuclei
D) photons
E) bonds

Answer 2

heavy nuclei

Question 3

Uranium-238 decays via alpha emission to produce _____.

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Answer 3

Question 4

Which particle completes this equation?
​
→ ____ +

A) An alpha particle
B) A beta particle
C) A gamma particle
D) A positron
E) A proton

Question 5

Which type of radioactive emission is analogous to an electron emission?

A) Positron
B) Neutron
C) Alpha particle
D) Gamma ray
E) Beta particle

Question 6

Identify the radioactive emission with the highest penetrating power.

A) Electrons
B) Beta particles
C) Alpha particles
D) Gamma rays
E) Neutrons

Question 7

Thorium-234 decays via beta emission to produce _____.

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 8

Which of the following occurs during beta emission?

A) The mass number increases.
B) The mass number decreases.
C) The atomic number increases.
D) The atomic number decreases.
E) None of the above

Question 9

Which of the following occurs during gamma emission?

A) The mass number increases.
B) The mass number decreases.
C) The atomic number increases.
D) The atomic number decreases.
E) The mass number and the atomic number remain the same.

Question 10

Which particle completes this equation?  (Here, m means unstable Ba-137.)
​
→ ____ +

A) An alpha particle
B) A beta particle
C) A gamma particle
D) A positron
E) A proton

Question 11

Which of the following processes best describes a beta decay?

A) A proton is converted into a neutron and an electron.
B) A neutron is converted into a proton and an electron.
C) A proton and an electron are converted into a neutron.
D) A neutron and an electron are converted into a proton.
E) A neutron and a proton are converted into an electron.

Question 12

Which among the following scientists is responsible for coining the term "radioactivity" and is also the only person to receive two noble prizes in science?

A) Becquerel
B) Curie
C) Einstein
D) Rutherford
E) Thompson

Question 13

Which of these is the correct representation of a beta particle?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 14

Which particle completes this equation?
​
→ _____ +

A) An alpha particle
B) A beta particle
C) A gamma particle
D) A positron
E) A proton

Question 15

Which of the following occurs during alpha emission?

A) The mass number increases.
B) The mass number remains the same.
C) The atomic number increases.
D) The atomic number decreases.
E) The atomic number remains the same.

Question 16

Which of these is the correct representation of an alpha particle?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 17

Which type of radioactive emission has the highest ionizing power?

A) Positron
B) Beta particle
C) Alpha particle
D) Gamma ray
E) Neutron

Question 18

Which among the following scientists discovered radioactivity when a photographic plate was exposed to a piece of uranium?

A) Becquerel
B) Curie
C) Einstein
D) Rutherford
E) Thompson

Question 19

Krypton-85 decays via beta emission to produce _____.

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 20

Nuclear chemistry involves changes  in the _____.

A) nucleus
B) valence electrons
C) bond number
D) inner electrons
E) photons

Question 21

Which of the following terms describes the self-sustaining process of fission?

A) Binding energy
B) Chain reaction
C) Alpha emission
D) Gamma radiation
E) Radioactivity

Question 22

The _____ of a radioactive element is the time required for half the nuclei in a sample to decay.

A) half-life
B) mode of decay
C) emission series
D) decay constant
E) rate of decay

Question 23

A radioactive decay series will continue until _____.

A) an unstable nucleus disintegrates to produce radioactive decay particles
B) a stable nucleus is produced
C) the same number of alpha and beta emissions have taken place
D) the same number of beta and gamma emissions have taken place
E) none of these

Question 24

What percentage of a radioactive sample will remain after two half-lives?

A) 50%
B) 25%
C) 12.5%
D) 6.25%
E) 0%

Question 25

Which of these statements about fission  reactions  is incorrect ?

A) Fission reactions release a large amount of energy.
B) Two lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus.
C) The fission of uranium-235 is initiated by the absorption of a neutron.
D) The first atomic bomb involved the fission of uranium-235 nuclei.
E) Fermi mistakenly discovered a fission reaction while synthesizing a new element.

Question 26

The half-life of protactinium-231 is 3.25 × 10 ⁴ years. How much time will 10.4 g of Pa-231 take to decay into 2.6 g?

A) 8.1 × 10⁶ years
B) 4.0 × 10⁵ years
C) 1.3 × 10⁵ years
D) 6.5 × 10⁴ years
E) 1.5 × 10⁴ years

Question 27

There are no stable isotopes for elements with _____.

A) atomic number greater than 82
B) atomic number greater than 83
C) atomic number lower than 83
D) atomic number lower than 82
E) atomic number lower than 81

Question 28

The amount of fissile material necessary for a self-sustained fission reaction is known as _____.

A) radioactivity
B) tonnage
C) substantial mass
D) critical mass
E) chain reaction

Question 29

The half-life of phosphorous-33 (P-33) is 25.3 days. How long will 64 g of P-33 take to decay to 1.0 g?

A) 10.67 days
B) 75 days
C) 100 days
D) 120 days
E) 151.8 days

Question 30

Which of the following scientists discovered nuclear fission while attempting to create a synthetic element?

A) Fermi
B) Becquerel
C) Curie
D) Rutherford
E) Thompson

Question 31

Which of the following pairs of  scientists built the first nuclear reactor?

A) Einstein and Rutherford
B) Hahn and Strassmann
C) Curie and Becquerel
D) Meitner and Fermi
E) Fermi and Szilard

Question 32

What was the secret code name for the building of the first atomic bomb?

A) Manhattan Project
B) Oralloy
C) Smiling Buddha
D) Project Albert
E) Site Y

Question 33

Nitrogen-13 has a half-life of 10 minutes. What amount of a 16 mg sample would remain after 30 minutes?

A) 0.5 mg
B) 1 mg
C) 2 mg
D) 4 mg
E) 8 mg

Question 34

Which of the following isotopes is naturally radioactive?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Question 35

Radon-222 has a half-life of 3.82 days. How many alpha emissions would have occurred when a 10 g of radon-222 sample decays over 19.1 days?

A) 3.39 × 10²⁰ emissions
B) 8.47 × 10²⁰ emissions
C) 5.42 × 10²¹ emissions
D) 2.62 × 10²² emissions
E) 4.18 × 10²⁵ emissions

Question 36

Which of the following scientists did not participate in early research surrounding fission reactions?

A) Fermi
B) Strassmann
C) Curie
D) Meitner
E) Hahn

Question 37

What percentage of a radioactive sample will remain after one half-life?

A) 100%
B) 75%
C) 50%
D) 25%
E) 0%

Question 38

The half-life of Sr-83 is 32.4 hours. How many emissions would have occurred when 20 g of strontium-83 decays to 4.0 g?

A) 3.39 × 10²⁰ emissions
B) 1.81 × 10²² emissions
C) 2.90 × 10²² emissions
D) 1.16 × 10²³ emissions
E) 1.45 × 10²³ emissions

Question 39

Which of the following radioactive decays  does not produce an atom of a different element?

A) Alpha
B) Beta
C) Gamma
D) Electron capture
E) Positron

Question 40

What percentage of a radioactive sample will remain after three half-lives?

A) 50%
B) 25%
C) 12.5%
D) 6.25%
E) 0%

Question 41

Calculate the mass defect of ³⁷ Cl if its mass is 36.9659 amu; the mass of proton is 1.0073 amu, and the mass of neutron is 1.0087 amu.

A) 2.693 amu
B) 0.388 amu
C) 0.341 amu
D) 0.332 amu
E) 0.263 amu

Question 42

Which among the following atoms has the most stable nuclei?

A) Ca
B) Fe
C) Mg
D) Ne
E) Xe

Question 43

How many years old is a fossilized tree if it contains 25% of its original carbon-14? (Assume that the half-life of carbon-14 = 5,730 years.)

A) 1,433
B) 5,730
C) 11,460
D) 17,190
E) 22,920

Question 44

Which of these radioactive dating methods is utilized in determining the age of the Earth?

A) Uranium dating
B) Carbon-14 dating
C) Nitrogen-14 dating
D) Oxygen-17 dating
E) Phosphorus dating

Question 45

The energy that holds the nucleons together is known as the _____.

A) nuclear binding energy
B) mass defect
C) critical mass
D) fusion energy
E) substantial mass

Question 46

Which of these equations gives the best explanation for mass defect?

A) E = h υ
B) c = λυ
C) Protons − neutrons
D) E = mc²
E) E = m/v

Question 47

Which among the following causes major problems for controlled energy generation by fission reaction?

A) Air pollution
B) Acid rain
C) Greenhouse gas emission
D) Waste disposal
E) Low energy yield per pound

Question 48

Which among the following elements is the largest naturally occurring source of radiation?

A) Xenon
B) Argon
C) Neon
D) Radon
E) Krypton

Question 49

Which among the following is the most significant problem in producing energy from fusion reactions?

A) Limited resources
B) Air pollution
C) Low-energy yield
D) Excessive radioactivity
E) Requirement of high temperature for fusion reactions

Question 50

The difference between the experimentally determined mass and the sum of the masses of the protons and neutrons in an atom is known as the _____.

A) nuclear mass
B) molar mass
C) mass defect
D) decay mass
E) isotopic mass

Question 51

Calculate the mass defect of ¹⁷ O if its mass is 16.9991 amu; the mass of proton is 1.0073 amu, and mass of neutron is 1.0087 amu.

A) 0.155 amu
B) 0.152 amu
C) 0.148 amu
D) 0.146 amu
E) 0.1376 amu

Question 52

Which among the following radioactive exposures would be the most damaging if it occurs inside a human body?

A) Gamma radiation
B) Alpha emission
C) Beta emission
D) Positron emission
E) Electron emission

Question 53

How many half-lives has a fossilized tree undergone if it contains 12.5% of its original carbon-14?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 16

Question 54

Instantaneous exposure to radiation at a dosage of -____-_ rem or higher is lethal.

A) 40
B) 100
C) 200
D) 300
E) 500

Question 55

Which of these statements about fusion is correct ?

A) Two lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus.
B) The fusion of uranium-238 nuclei was at the heart of the first atomic bomb.
C) Fusion waste products are typically more hazardous than fission materials.
D) Fusion reactions release a huge amount of energy but less than that of fission reactions.
E) All of these statements are correct.

Question 56

The term used to describe the melting of an overheated nuclear reactor core is known as the _____.

A) Manhattan Project
B) chain reaction
C) China Syndrome
D) critical mass
E) nuclear  binding energy

Question 57

Which of these is the correct unit for measuring human radioactive exposure?

A) Roentgen
B) Curie
C) Rem
D) Sievert
E) Becquerel

Question 58

Which of the following nuclei has the highest binding energy?

A) Fe
B) Ar
C) U
D) Al
E) Na

Question 59

Instantaneous exposure to a radiation at a dosage of _____ or greater is may lead to radiation sickness.

A) 40 rem
B) 100 rem
C) 200 rem
D) 300 rem
E) 500 rem

Question 60

The number of radioactive disintegrations per second is measured in units of ____.

A) Roentgen
B) Curie
C) Rem
D) Sievert
E) Becquerel

Question 61

Which of these is/are a possible effect of radiation exposure?

A) Death
B) Birth defects
C) Increased risk of cancer
D) Radiation sickness
E) All of these

Question 62

The half-life of an element is 15 minutes. A sample contains 20,000 atoms of the element. How many atoms of the element will remain after 30 minutes?

A) 2,000
B) 5,000
C) 10,000
D) 2,500
E) 1,000

Question 63

The SI unit of radiation exposure is  _____.

A) Becquerel
B) Curie
C) Sievert
D) Rad
E) Roentgen

Question 64

Which of these is/are a common source of radiation exposure for humans?

A) X-rays
B) Cancer treatment
C) Radon gas
D) X-rays and cancer treatment
E) X-rays, cancer treatment, and radon gas

Question 65

What percentage of radiation exposure is a result of man-made sources?

A) 18%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 82%
E) 95%

Question 66

A newly discovered rock formation contains fossils that are estimated to be 11,000 years old. Which radioactive dating method/methods would give the most accurate age of the fossils?
I. Uranium dating
II. Carbon-14 dating
III. Uranium-thorium dating

A) I only
B) II only
C) III
D) I and II
E) I and III

Question 67

_____ contains the heaviest stable nucleus.

A) Bismuth
B) Uranium
C) Cobalt
D) Sodium
E) Potassium

Question 68

Which among the following is not an application of nuclear chemistry?

A) Medicine
B) Energy
C) Radioactive dating
D) Warfare
E) All of these are applications of nuclear chemistry.

Question 69

Which of these medical applications of nuclear chemistry is/are used in the treatment of cancerous tumors?

A) Tracers
B) Fission
C) Chemotherapy
D) Radiation therapy
E) Mass defect

Question 70

Which of the following radioactive elements was used in the Fat Man bomb?

A) Polonium
B) Thorium
C) Uranium
D) Plutonium
E) Radium

Question 71

The eruption of a volcano unearths rocks from deep within the Earth's crust. The rocks are estimated to be 9 × 10 ⁹ years old. Which radioactive dating method/methods would give the most accurate age of the fossils?
I. Uranium dating
II. Carbon-14 dating
III. Sodium dating

A) I only
B) II only
C) III
D) I and III
E) II and III

Question 72

Which of these health concerns is/are most common for higher radon exposure?

A) Thyroid cancer
B) Breast cancer
C) Lung cancer
D) Birth defects
E) Leukemia

Question 73

Fermi and Szilard achieved a critical mass by using a pile of uranium and graphite that resulted in a self-sustaining fission reaction lasting _____ minutes.

A) 2.5
B) 5
C) 1.5
D) 4
E) 4.5