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What happens to the mass number during β decay?
What happens to the mass number during β decay?
How is β decay classified in terms of isobars?
How is β decay classified in terms of isobars?
What is the relationship between the lines representing 14C and 14N in a decay scheme diagram?
What is the relationship between the lines representing 14C and 14N in a decay scheme diagram?
What is the maximum thickness of material that β particles can penetrate?
What is the maximum thickness of material that β particles can penetrate?
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In β decay, what is the nature of the β particles?
In β decay, what is the nature of the β particles?
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What occurs after the daughter nucleus is formed in certain β decay processes?
What occurs after the daughter nucleus is formed in certain β decay processes?
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What is the transition energy (Q) for 14C during β decay?
What is the transition energy (Q) for 14C during β decay?
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Why is detecting β particles from inside the body challenging?
Why is detecting β particles from inside the body challenging?
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What is the primary risk associated with alpha particles?
What is the primary risk associated with alpha particles?
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Which particle can travel the furthest in living tissue?
Which particle can travel the furthest in living tissue?
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Which of the following statements about beta particles is true?
Which of the following statements about beta particles is true?
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What information does a chart of nuclides provide?
What information does a chart of nuclides provide?
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What materials are typically needed to stop gamma rays effectively?
What materials are typically needed to stop gamma rays effectively?
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What characterizes the parent and daughter nuclei in radioactive decay?
What characterizes the parent and daughter nuclei in radioactive decay?
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What is the nature of radioactive decay?
What is the nature of radioactive decay?
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What does the transition energy in radioactive decay represent?
What does the transition energy in radioactive decay represent?
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How do the average lifetime and mode of decay of a radionuclide relate?
How do the average lifetime and mode of decay of a radionuclide relate?
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What is usually observed about the weight of decay products compared to the original radioactive atom?
What is usually observed about the weight of decay products compared to the original radioactive atom?
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In the radioactive decay process, from where does most of the emitted energy arise?
In the radioactive decay process, from where does most of the emitted energy arise?
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Which of the following statements about radioactive decay is incorrect?
Which of the following statements about radioactive decay is incorrect?
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What role do atomic electrons play in radioactive decay?
What role do atomic electrons play in radioactive decay?
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What is the total transition energy required for β+ decay?
What is the total transition energy required for β+ decay?
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What phenomenon occurs when a positron and an electron annihilate each other?
What phenomenon occurs when a positron and an electron annihilate each other?
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In β+ decay, what happens to the atomic number of the daughter atom?
In β+ decay, what happens to the atomic number of the daughter atom?
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How is the excess transition energy in β+ decay allocated?
How is the excess transition energy in β+ decay allocated?
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What type of decay involves a daughter nucleus in a metastable state emitting a γ ray?
What type of decay involves a daughter nucleus in a metastable state emitting a γ ray?
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What can occur with certain radionuclides during β emission?
What can occur with certain radionuclides during β emission?
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When positrons are emitted, what must happen to maintain atomic neutrality in β+ decay?
When positrons are emitted, what must happen to maintain atomic neutrality in β+ decay?
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What is internal conversion primarily associated with?
What is internal conversion primarily associated with?
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What is the primary emission product when a positron and an electron annihilate?
What is the primary emission product when a positron and an electron annihilate?
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What happens to the energy of the ejected electron during internal conversion?
What happens to the energy of the ejected electron during internal conversion?
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What occurs during the process of electron capture decay?
What occurs during the process of electron capture decay?
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Which statement correctly describes the differences between β decay and internal conversion?
Which statement correctly describes the differences between β decay and internal conversion?
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What type of decay is characterized as 'inverse β decay'?
What type of decay is characterized as 'inverse β decay'?
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What happens to the orbital vacancy created during internal conversion?
What happens to the orbital vacancy created during internal conversion?
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Which shells are typically involved when an electron is captured during electron capture decay?
Which shells are typically involved when an electron is captured during electron capture decay?
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During electron capture decay, which of the following is emitted from the nucleus?
During electron capture decay, which of the following is emitted from the nucleus?
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What effect does electron capture (EC) decay have on the atomic number of a nucleus?
What effect does electron capture (EC) decay have on the atomic number of a nucleus?
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Which decay mode is more likely to occur among heavier elements?
Which decay mode is more likely to occur among heavier elements?
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What is a characteristic of gamma rays emitted during EC decay?
What is a characteristic of gamma rays emitted during EC decay?
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In which decay process is an α particle emitted from the nucleus?
In which decay process is an α particle emitted from the nucleus?
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What is the typical kinetic energy range of emitted alpha particles?
What is the typical kinetic energy range of emitted alpha particles?
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Which radionuclide has a decay scheme that involves both electron capture and beta plus emission?
Which radionuclide has a decay scheme that involves both electron capture and beta plus emission?
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What happens to the atomic mass during alpha-particle emission?
What happens to the atomic mass during alpha-particle emission?
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Which decay mode is typically associated with very heavy elements seeking nuclear stability?
Which decay mode is typically associated with very heavy elements seeking nuclear stability?
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Study Notes
Chapter Two: Modes of Radioactive Decay
- Radioactive decay: A process where an unstable nucleus transforms into a more stable one, releasing energy.
- Parent isotope: The unstable radioactive nucleus.
- Daughter isotope: The more stable product nucleus.
- Alpha decay: Emission of a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
- Beta decay: Emission of an electron (β-) or a positron (β+).
- Gamma decay: Emission of a high-energy photon (gamma ray).
- Radioactive decay is spontaneous: The exact moment of decay cannot be predicted.
- Mass-energy conversion: Radioactive decay converts mass into energy.
- Transition energy (Q): The total mass-energy conversion amount.
- Kinetic energy: The energy imparted to emitted particles.
- Recoiling nucleus: A small portion of the transition energy is imparted as kinetic energy to the resulting nucleus.
- Chemical Properties of radionuclides:
- Chemical behaviour of an atom is not affected by radioactive properties of nucleus.
- The decay of the nucleus does not affect the behaviour of electrons around the nucleus.
2.1 General Concepts
- Radioactive decay is a nuclear process triggered by instability.
- The parent isotope decays into a daughter isotope.
- Decay results in energy release. The excess energy is transformed into kinetic energy of decay products (electrons, positrons, or particles), and/or gamma radiation.
- The daughter isotope may also be unstable and further decay.
2.2 Chemistry and Radioactivity
- Radioactive decay is a nuclear process.
- Chemical reactions primarily involve electrons.
- Radioactive properties of a nucleus do not affect its chemical properties.
2.3 Radioactive Decay
- Types of radioactive decay processes are alpha, beta, and gamma decay.
2.3.1 Beta Decay
- A proton in the nucleus transforms into a neutron, or vice versa.
- The nucleus emits an electron (β−) or a positron (β+).
- A neutrino (essentially massless and chargeless) is also emitted.
2.3.2 Beta Decay by $\beta^−$
- A neutron transforms into a proton and an electron (e−).
- The electron and an antineutrino (ν) are emitted.
- Atomic number increases by 1.
2.3.3 Beta Decay by $\beta^+$ (Positron)
- A proton transforms into a neutron and a positron (e+).
- A neutrino (ν) is also emitted.
- Atomic number decreases by 1.
2.3.4 Electron Capture (EC)
- An orbital electron is captured by the nucleus.
- A proton and the electron combine to form a neutron.
- A neutrino (ν) is emitted.
- Atomic number decreases by 1.
2.3.5 Competitive $\beta^+$ and EC decay
- $\beta^+$ decay and electron capture (EC) have the same effect on the parent nucleus.
- Both are isobaric decay modes. They affect the atomic number, but not the mass number of the atom.
- The occurrence of $\beta^+$ decay or electron capture (EC) depends on the element type and their respective energies required for the transition to be possible.
2.3.6 Decay by α Emission
- α particle emission: A nucleus emits an α particle (essentially a helium-4 nucleus).
- The atomic number decreases by 2 and the mass number decreases by 4.
2.3.7 Gamma Rays
- Gamma rays are high-energy photons emitted during the deexcitation of an excited nucleus.
- Gamma rays have no mass or charge and high penetration power.
2.3.8 Penetration Power of Radiation
- Different radiations have varying penetration powers.
- Alpha particles have the lowest penetration power, followed by beta particles, then gamma rays.
2.3.9 Sources of Information on Radionuclides
- Charts of the nuclides provide summaries of radionuclide properties.
- Stable or radioactive isotopes are assigned squares on the chart.
- Rows (isotones) and Columns (isotopes) are based on neutron and proton number.
2.3.2 Isomeric Transition
- Isomeric transitions occur in excited/metastable states.
- A unstable nucleus decay into its ground state by emitting a γ ray.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of radioactive decay through this quiz based on Chapter Two. Understand key concepts, including the types of decay, the roles of parent and daughter isotopes, and the conversion of mass into energy. Test your knowledge on alpha, beta, and gamma decay and how they affect radionuclides.
