Deck 16: Nuclear Chemistry

Question 1

Which example is, by definition, an isotope of carbon-12?

A) a nuclide with atomic number 5 and mass number 12
B) a nuclide with 8 protons and 9 neutrons
C) a nuclide with 6 protons and 8 neutrons
D) a nuclide with 12 nucleons

Answer 1

a nuclide with 6 protons and 8 neutrons

Question 2

Complete the following nuclear equation. + $\rightarrow$ + _____

A)
B)
C)
D)

Answer 2

Question 3

A nuclide is defined as an atom or nucleus containing a particular number of:

A) electrons and protons.
B) protons and neutrons.
C) electrons and neutrons.
D) electrons, protons, and neutrons.

Answer 3

protons and neutrons.

Question 4

Which atomic symbol describes an atom with 16 protons and 17 neutrons?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 5

Complete the following nuclear equation. + $\rightarrow$ + _____ +

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 6

Which nuclide is represented by the atomic symbol ?

A) oxygen-18
B) argon-18
C) neon-18
D) oxygen-10

Question 7

Isotopes, by definition, have the same _____ but a different _____, respectively.

A) number of electrons; number of protons
B) number of electrons; number of neutrons
C) atomic number; mass number
D) number of neutrons; number of electrons

Question 8

The mass number is defined as the number of:

A) electrons.
B) protons.
C) neutrons.
D) protons and neutrons together.

Question 9

The atomic symbol represents an element with _____ protons and _____ neutrons, respectively.

A) 25; 30
B) 25; 55
C) 55; 25
D) 55; 30

Question 10

Complete the following example of beta decay. $\rightarrow$ _____ + .

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 11

Complete the following nuclear equation. + $\rightarrow$ _____

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 12

Which factor determines the elemental identity of an atom?

A) the number of electrons
B) the number of protons
C) the number of neutrons
D) the number of protons and neutrons together

Question 13

When an atom undergoes beta decay:

A) the atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4.
B) the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.
C) the atomic number and the mass number remain the same.
D) the atomic number decreases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.

Question 14

Complete the following nuclear equation. $\rightarrow$ + _____

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 15

When an atom undergoes gamma decay:

A) the atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4.
B) the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.
C) the atomic number and the mass number remain the same.
D) the atomic number decreases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.

Question 16

Complete the following example of alpha decay. $\rightarrow$ _____ +

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 17

Complete the following nuclear equation. $\rightarrow$ + _____

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 18

The atomic number is defined as the number of:

A) electrons.
B) protons.
C) neutrons.
D) protons and neutrons together.

Question 19

A nucleon can be:

A) any subatomic particle.
B) an electron.
C) an alpha particle.
D) any particle in the nucleus.

Question 20

When an atom undergoes alpha decay:

A) the atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4.
B) the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.
C) the atomic number and the mass number remain the same.
D) the atomic number decreases by 1 and the mass number doesn't change.

Question 21

Which form of radioactive emission is a form of electromagnetic radiation?

A) alpha
B) beta
C) gamma

Question 22

Select the BEST definition for the binding energy of a nucleus.

A) the energy released when nucleons combine to form a nucleus
B) the energy required to break a nucleus into its component parts
C) both the energy released when nucleons combine to form a nucleus and the energy required to break a nucleus into its component parts
D) neither of the above

Question 23

The concentration of carbon-14 in living plants is about 240 Bq/kg C. If a tree dies today, what concentration of carbon-14 would still be present after 2 half-lives?

A) 240 Bq/kg C
B) 120 Bq/kg C
C) 60 Bq/kg C
D) none

Question 24

Cobalt-58 has a half-life of 71 days. How much of a 48- $\mu$ g sample would remain after 284 days?

A) 24 $\mu$ g
B) 12 $\mu$ g
C) 6 $\mu$ g
D) 3 $\mu$ g

Question 25

Which unit is NOT a measure of radiation?

A) dosimeter
B) becquerel
C) sievert
D) rem

Question 26

Which device is NOT used to measure radiation?

A) Geiger counter
B) scintillation counter
C) dosimeter
D) sievert

Question 27

Lead-210 decays through the pathway $\beta$ , $\alpha$ , $\beta$ , $\beta$ , $\beta$ , $\alpha$ . What is the final nucleus formed after these decays?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 28

The half-life of carbon-14 is about 5,730 years. If an ancient cave painting was found to have about 25% of the carbon-14 of a now-living object, about how old is the cave painting?

A) 5,730 years
B) 11,500 years
C) 17,200 years
D) Not enough information is given to determine the age.

Question 29

Complete the following example of gamma decay. $\rightarrow$ _____ +

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 30

Which form of radioactive emission is the same as an electron?

A) alpha
B) beta
C) gamma

Question 31

Iodine-131 has a half-life of 8 days. How much of a 16- $\mu$ g sample would remain after 16 days?

A) 16 $\mu$ g
B) 8 $\mu$ g
C) 4 $\mu$ g
D) none

Question 32

If after 15 years, 10 mg of an original 320-mg sample of a radioactive isotope remain, how long is the half-life of this isotope?

A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 15 years
D) 0.5 years

Question 33

In general, how does the neutron-proton ratio change from small nuclides to larger nuclides?

A) The ratio increases.
B) The ratio decreases
C) The ratio remains the same.

Question 34

Relate mass defect and binding energy and stability.

A) The greater the mass defect, the greater the binding energy and the more stable the nucleus.
B) The greater the mass defect, the greater the binding energy and the less stable the nucleus.
C) The greater the mass defect, the less the binding energy and the less stable the nucleus.
D) The less the mass defect, the less the binding energy and the more stable the nucleus.

Question 35

List the three common forms of radioactive emission by penetrating ability from least to most.

A) alpha, beta, gamma
B) beta, alpha, gamma
C) gamma, beta, alpha
D) gamma, alpha, beta

Question 36

Samarium-153 has a half-life of 2 days. How much of this radioisotope remains after 10 days?

A) 50%
B) 25%
C) 20%
D) about 3%

Question 37

The half-life of carbon-14 is about 5,730 years. If an ancient leather strap is about 11,500 years old, what percentage of carbon-14 in a now-living object remains in the strap?

A) 100%
B) 50%
C) 25%
D) none

Question 38

Which form of radioactive emission is the same as a helium nucleus?

A) alpha
B) beta
C) gamma

Question 39

Radium-224 decays through the pathway $\alpha$ , $\alpha$ , $\alpha$ , $\beta$ , $\alpha$ , $\beta$ . What is the final stable nucleus formed?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 40

What is the relationship between the mass defect and energy released in a nuclear reaction?

A) The greater the mass defect, the greater the energy released.
B) The greater the mass defect ,the less the energy released.
C) There is no relationship between the mass defect and the energy released.

Question 41

Complete the following fusion reaction;
_____ + $\rightarrow$ +

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 42

The control rods in a nuclear reactor regulate the chain reaction by:

A) absorbing the neutrons.
B) absorbing the protons.
C) absorbing the uranium or plutonium atoms.
D) raising or lowering the temperature.

Question 43

The sequence of energy changes for a nuclear reactor to produce electricity is:

A) nuclear - heat - mechanical - electricity.
B) nuclear - mechanical - heat - electricity.
C) nuclear - chemical - heat - electricity.
D) nuclear - chemical - heat - mechanical - electricity.

Question 44

The reaction in which neutrons from the fission of one nucleus cause the fission of another nucleus is called:

A) a chain reaction.
B) fusion.
C) radioactive decay.
D) an endothermic reaction.

Question 45

Complete the fission reaction of plutonium-239: + $\rightarrow$ + _____ + .

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 46

The most stable isotope is iron-56. What kind of nuclear emission would be expected from much lighter nuclei and from much heavier nuclei, respectively?

A) beta, alpha
B) alpha, beta
C) both beta
D) both alpha

Question 47

Complete the following fusion reaction.
_____ + $\rightarrow$

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 48

The following nuclear reaction absorbs energy. Which has more mass, the reactants or the products?
energy + + $\rightarrow$ +

A) neither because of the law of conservation of mass
B) the reactants because some of the energy is converted to mass
C) the products because some of the energy is converted to mass
D) the reactants because some of the mass is converted to energy

Question 49

Complete the fission reaction of plutonium-239: + $\rightarrow$ + _____ + .

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 50

Complete the fission reaction of plutonium-239: + $\rightarrow$ + _____ + .

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 51

Complete the following fusion reaction.
+ $\rightarrow$ ___ + 2

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 52

The following nuclear reaction releases energy. Which has more mass, the reactants or the products?
$\rightarrow$$\rightarrow$ + + energy

A) neither because of the law of conservation of mass
B) the reactant because some of the mass is converted to energy
C) the products because some of the energy is converted to mass
D) the products because some of the mass is converted to energy