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Radioactive Decay quiz

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Terms in this set (15)

  • What is the main difference between a nuclear reaction and a regular chemical reaction?
    A nuclear reaction changes the number of protons in an atom, altering the element's identity, while a chemical reaction does not change the element itself.
  • What does the term 'decay' or 'emission' mean in the context of nuclear reactions?
    It means that the radioactive particle (such as alpha, beta, or gamma) is a product of the reaction.
  • What is the opposite of 'decay' or 'emission' in nuclear reactions, and what does it indicate?
    The opposite is 'capture' or 'absorption,' which means the radioactive particle is a reactant in the reaction.
  • What particles are emitted during alpha decay, and how are they represented?
    Alpha decay emits a particle composed of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, represented as 4/2 He or 4/2 α.
  • How does alpha decay affect the atomic mass and atomic number of the original atom?
    Alpha decay decreases the atomic mass by 4 and the atomic number by 2.
  • Why are alpha particles highly damaging to biological cells but have low penetrating power?
    Alpha particles have high ionizing power, making them very damaging if ingested, but their large size prevents them from penetrating skin easily.
  • What is emitted during beta decay, and how is it represented in nuclear equations?
    Beta decay emits an electron, represented as 0/-1 e or 0/-1 β.
  • How does beta decay change the atomic number and mass number of an atom?
    Beta decay increases the atomic number by 1 but leaves the mass number unchanged.
  • How do the ionizing and penetrating powers of beta particles compare to alpha particles?
    Beta particles have lower ionizing power but higher penetrating power than alpha particles.
  • What is unique about gamma emission in terms of changes to atomic mass and atomic number?
    Gamma emission does not change the atomic mass or atomic number of the atom.
  • How are gamma rays characterized in terms of energy, frequency, and wavelength?
    Gamma rays have the highest energy and frequency, and the shortest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • What is electron capture, and how does it affect the atomic number of an atom?
    Electron capture is when an unstable nucleus absorbs an electron (a reactant), decreasing the atomic number by 1.
  • What is a positron, and how is it represented in nuclear equations?
    A positron is the antiparticle of the electron (a positive electron), represented as 0/+1 e or 0/+1 β.
  • What happens to the atomic number during positron emission?
    During positron emission, the atomic number decreases by 1, while the mass number remains unchanged.
  • Which type of radiation has the highest penetrating power and what is its biological effect?
    Gamma radiation has the highest penetrating power and is extremely toxic to living tissue, causing severe damage even in small amounts.