Nuclear Chemistry Review

A process in which a very heavy nucleus splits into more-stable nuclei of intermediate mass is called:
1. nuclear fusion
2. nuclear fission
3. radioactive decay
4. a chain reaction
5. radiocarbon dating
Which of the following statements is true?
1. All man-made isotopes are radioactive
2. Some man-made isotopes are radioactive
3. None of the man-made isotopes are radioactive
Which of the following statements is true?
1. All naturally occurring isotopes are radioactive
2. Some naturally occurring isotopes are radioactive
3. No naturally occurring isotopes are radioactive
An electron emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay is known as:
1. An alpha (a) particle
2. A beta (b) particle
3. A positron
4. A gamma ray
An alpha (a) particle is essentially a ____________________ nucleus.
1. hydrogen
2. uranium
3. carbon-12
4. helium
5. plutonium
Gamma (g) rays are:
1. are very high energy, very short wavelength electromagnetic radiation
2. are very high energy, very long wavelength electromagnetic radiation
3. are very low energy, very short wavelength electromagnetic radiation
4. are very low energy, very long wavelength electromagnetic radiation
Very large nuclei tend to be unstable because of the:
1. repulsive forces between electrons
2. attraction of electrons for the positively charged nucleus
3. repulsive forces between neutrons
4. repulsive forces between protons
5. attraction of protons for neutrons
For the most common types of radioactive decay, the order of mass from lightest to heaviest is:
1. gamma, alpha, beta
2. beta, alpha, gamma
3. beta, gamma, alpha
4. gamma, beta, alpha
For the most common types of radioactive decay, the order of least penetrating to human tissue, to most penetrating to human tissue is:
1. gamma, alpha, beta
2. alpha, beta, gamma
3. beta, gamma, alpha
4. gamma, beta, alpha
For the most common types of radioactive decay, the order of least dangerous to most dangerous is:
1. gamma, alpha, beta
2. alpha, beta, gamma
3. beta, gamma, alpha
4. gamma, beta, alpha
In nuclear reactions:
1. small amount of mass are converted to large amounts of mass
2. large amount of energy are converted to small amount of mass
3. small amounts of mass are converted to large amount of energy
4. mass and energy are destroyed
Compared to chemical reactions, nuclear reactions produce:
1. proportionally far less energy
2. proportionally far more energy
3. fewer changes in the nucleus
4. more vegetables
Loss of a beta particle
1. converts a neutron into a proton
2. converts a proton into a neutron
3. has no effect on the nucleus
4. causes the mass number to decrease by four
5. causes the atomic number to decrease by 2
Loss of an alpha particle
1. converts a neutron into a proton
2. converts a proton into a neutron
3. has no effect on the nucleus
4. causes the mass number to decrease by 4
5. causes the atomic number to decrease by 2
Loss of a gamma ray
1. converts a neutron into a proton
2. converts a proton into a neutron
3. has no effect on the nucleus
4. causes the mass number to decrease by 4
5. causes the atomic number to decrease by 2
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁹₉₃Np → ²³⁹₉₄Pu + _____
1. ¹₀n
2. ⁰₁e
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ¹₁H
What type of decay is taking place in this reaction?

¹⁴₆C → ⁰_-1e + ¹⁴₇N
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
In what way is the nucleus changed by this decay?

¹⁴₆C → ⁰_-1e + ¹⁴₇N
1. a proton is converted to a neutron
2. a neutron is converted to a proton
3. a positron is converted to an alpha particle
4. there is no change in the nucleus because the mass remains 14
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁹₉₂U + ⁴₂He → _____ + ¹₀n
1. ²⁴²₉₄Pu
2. ²⁴³₉₄Pu
3. ²⁴³₉₂U
4. ²⁴¹₉₂U
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²⁷₁₃Al + ⁴₂He → ³⁰₁₅P + _____
1. ¹₀n
2. ¹₁H
3. ⁶¹₃₀Zn
4. ⁷₄Be
What type of decay is taking place in this equation?

²¹²₈₃Bi → ⁴₂He + ²⁰⁸₈₁Tl
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁹₉₄Pu → ⁴₂He + _____
1. ²³⁵₉₂U
2. ²⁴³₉₆Cm
3. ²³⁵₉₆Cm
4. ²⁴³₉₂U
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁴²₁₉K → ⁰_-1e + _____
1. ⁴²₂₀Ca
2. ⁴²₁₈Ar
3. ⁴¹₁₉K
4. ⁴¹₂₀Ca
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²²⁶₈₈Ra → ⁴₂He + _____
1. ²²²₈₆Rn
2. ²³⁰₉₀Th
3. ²²²₉₀Th
4. ²³⁰₈₆Rn
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁹⁹₄₃Tc → _____ + ⁰_-1e
1. ⁹⁹₄₄Ru
2. ⁹⁹₄₃Tc
3. ⁹⁹₄₂Mo
4. ⁹⁹₄₃Es
What is the effect of this decay?

⁹⁹₄₃Tc → ⁹⁹₄₄Ru + ⁰_-1e
1. a neutron is converted to a proton
2. a proton is converted to a neutron
3. a beta particle and a positron annihilate each other
4. the mass decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2
How is the nucleus changed by the decay below?

²²⁶₈₈Ra → ⁴₂He +²²²₈₆Rn
1. the mass decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2
2. a proton is converted to a neutron
3. a neutron is converted to a proton
4. a positron and a beta particle annihilate each other
The effect of this decay is that:

²³⁹₉₄Pu → ⁴₂He + ²³⁵₉₂U
1. a neutron is converted to a proton
2. plutonium is converted to uranium
3. the mass number increases
4. critical mass is achieved