Nuclear Decay and Half-Life Quiz

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What is the effect on the atomic number when a nucleus loses a β-particle?

It increases by 1 (correct)

It stays the same

It increases by 2

It decreases by 1

What is the half-life of Uranium-238?

4.5 x 10^9 years (correct)

1600 years

1.18 min

24.10 days

What happens to the mass number when a nucleus emits an α-particle?

Increases by 1

Increases by 2

Decreases by 1

Decreases by 2 (correct)

Which of the following is a characteristic of half-life?

It is constant for a given isotope Signup and view all the answers

Which emission type occurs when Protactinium-234 decays?

β-particle Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of nuclear chemistry?

The structure and behavior of the atom's nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Who first observed radioactivity through the study of Uranium crystals?

Henri Becquerel Signup and view all the answers

Which type of radiation has the highest penetration power?

Gamma rays Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic property of alpha rays?

High ionizing power but low penetration power Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes gamma rays from alpha and beta rays?

They are electromagnetic waves and not particles Signup and view all the answers

During radioactive decay, what is primarily released?

Radiant energy Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about beta rays is correct?

They have a moderate penetration power. Signup and view all the answers

How does temperature affect radioactive emissions?

It has no effect on emissions. Signup and view all the answers

What process describes the spontaneous disintegration of a substance releasing radiation?

Radioactive decay Signup and view all the answers

Which type of radiation is stopped by a thin piece of aluminum?

Beta rays Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of gamma rays?

They have no charge or mass. Signup and view all the answers

Which material can gamma rays penetrate?

Paper Signup and view all the answers

How does the Geiger-Müller counter detect radiation?

It relies on the ionizing effect of radiation on gases. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when radiation enters the Geiger-Müller counter's ionization chamber?

Argon atoms become ionized, creating pulse current. Signup and view all the answers

What type of interaction does a scintillation counter primarily detect?

Light flashes from mineral interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using radioisotopes as markers during chemical reactions?

To track the behavior of elements during the reaction Signup and view all the answers

Which method is commonly used for dating rocks and archaeological objects?

Carbon-14 dating Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary process occurring during nuclear fission?

The splitting of a heavy nucleus into smaller parts Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the difference in mass between the reactants and products in a nuclear reaction that leads to energy release?

Mass defect Signup and view all the answers

What type of nuclear reactions can be used to obtain nuclear energy?

Both nuclear fission and fusion Signup and view all the answers

What initiates a nuclear chain reaction in uranium-235?

Slow neutrons bombarding the nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What role do boron-coated control rods play in a nuclear power station?

They regulate the neutron production rate Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic distinguishes nuclear fission from nuclear fusion?

It involves the splitting of heavier nuclei Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using moderators in nuclear reactions?

To slow down fast-moving neutrons Signup and view all the answers

What defines the critical mass in a nuclear chain reaction?

The minimum amount of fuel needed to sustain the reaction Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to nuclear stability?

Half-life, neutron-proton ratio, and binding energy Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding half-life?

Shorter half-lives correspond with higher instability. Signup and view all the answers

What is mass defect in the context of nuclear stability?

The energy difference between a nucleus and its constituent particles Signup and view all the answers

What neutron-proton ratio is likely to indicate instability?

Ratios less than 1.0 or greater than 1.5 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an application of radioisotopes in medicine?

Gamma rays for sterilization Signup and view all the answers

What defines artificial radioactivity?

It is induced by human intervention in stable nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes can be classified as a nuclear reaction?

Inducing artificial radioactivity Signup and view all the answers

What is one use of Cobalt-60 in industry?

Detecting faults in welds and castings Signup and view all the answers

How much energy is released when 0.002g of mass is annihilated in a nuclear reaction?

$1.8 imes 10^{-11}$ J Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT an effect of excessive exposure to radiation?

Increased energy levels Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle behind nuclear fission?

Splitting a heavy nucleus into two lighter ones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following uses of radioactive isotopes is accurate?

Sterilization of medical equipment Signup and view all the answers

Arrange the following emissions in order of increasing energy: alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays.

Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of half-life in radioactive decay?

The time it takes for half the number of atoms in a sample to decay. Signup and view all the answers

How can the remaining amount of radioactive material be calculated?

$N = N_0 e^{- rac{0.693t}{t_{1/2}}}$ Signup and view all the answers

What does a radioactive decay graph typically illustrate?

An exponential decrease in the amount of radioactive material over time. Signup and view all the answers

If a substance has a half-life of 80,000 years, how many years will it take for one-sixteenth of the original amount to remain?

160,000 years Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following formulas represents the rate of decay?

Rate = -λN Signup and view all the answers

In the decay equation $N = N_0 e^{- rac{0.693t}{t_{1/2}}}$, what does $t_{1/2}$ represent?

The half-life of the radioactive element. Signup and view all the answers

How many atoms will remain from a sample of 1,000,000 thorium-230 atoms after one half-life?

500,000 atoms Signup and view all the answers