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Questions and Answers
What particle is produced when a proton is converted during beta decay?
What particle is produced when a proton is converted during beta decay?
Which characteristic is true of neutrinos?
Which characteristic is true of neutrinos?
What is the primary effect of gamma decay on the atomic and mass numbers of the nucleus?
What is the primary effect of gamma decay on the atomic and mass numbers of the nucleus?
What is Technetium-99m commonly used for?
What is Technetium-99m commonly used for?
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Which range of energy is characteristic of gamma photons?
Which range of energy is characteristic of gamma photons?
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What is radioactivity primarily defined as?
What is radioactivity primarily defined as?
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Which of the following best describes an unstable atom?
Which of the following best describes an unstable atom?
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What types of particles are commonly emitted during radioactive decay?
What types of particles are commonly emitted during radioactive decay?
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Which of the following accurately describes the forces within an unstable atom?
Which of the following accurately describes the forces within an unstable atom?
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What characterizes human-made sources of radiation?
What characterizes human-made sources of radiation?
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What is the commonly used radio-isotope in gamma cameras for bone scans?
What is the commonly used radio-isotope in gamma cameras for bone scans?
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In radiopharmaceuticals, how is the effective half-life defined?
In radiopharmaceuticals, how is the effective half-life defined?
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If the specific activity of Tc99-m is 672 MBq per ml at 8:30am, what key factor must be considered to find the specific activity at 12:30pm?
If the specific activity of Tc99-m is 672 MBq per ml at 8:30am, what key factor must be considered to find the specific activity at 12:30pm?
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What happens to the effective half-life if both biological elimination and radioactive decay are present?
What happens to the effective half-life if both biological elimination and radioactive decay are present?
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What is the relationship between physical half-life and effective half-life in radiopharmaceuticals?
What is the relationship between physical half-life and effective half-life in radiopharmaceuticals?
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What is the primary reason that light mass particles lose energy quickly?
What is the primary reason that light mass particles lose energy quickly?
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What is emitted during beta minus decay?
What is emitted during beta minus decay?
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Which of the following statements about beta plus decay is correct?
Which of the following statements about beta plus decay is correct?
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What is the range of beta particles in aluminum?
What is the range of beta particles in aluminum?
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What happens to the unpaired proton during electron capture?
What happens to the unpaired proton during electron capture?
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What is a key concern regarding beta particles?
What is a key concern regarding beta particles?
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What does the decay equation $6C^{14} \rightarrow 7N + \beta^{-}$ represent?
What does the decay equation $6C^{14} \rightarrow 7N + \beta^{-}$ represent?
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What does the presence of too many neutrons in a nucleus typically lead to?
What does the presence of too many neutrons in a nucleus typically lead to?
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What does the activity of a radionuclide measure?
What does the activity of a radionuclide measure?
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Which unit is used to express the activity of a radionuclide?
Which unit is used to express the activity of a radionuclide?
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What is the half-life of the radionuclide 234U?
What is the half-life of the radionuclide 234U?
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Which statement best describes the decay constant?
Which statement best describes the decay constant?
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Which of the following radionuclides has the shortest half-life?
Which of the following radionuclides has the shortest half-life?
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What role do radiopharmaceuticals play in nuclear medicine?
What role do radiopharmaceuticals play in nuclear medicine?
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What can be inferred about nuclides with longer half-lives regarding their decay constant?
What can be inferred about nuclides with longer half-lives regarding their decay constant?
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What happens to the activity of a radionuclide over time?
What happens to the activity of a radionuclide over time?
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What is the primary cause of instability in a nucleus?
What is the primary cause of instability in a nucleus?
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What is the process called when a nucleus transforms into a more stable form?
What is the process called when a nucleus transforms into a more stable form?
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Which type of decay involves the emission of an alpha particle?
Which type of decay involves the emission of an alpha particle?
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What determines the mass and charge of a nucleus?
What determines the mass and charge of a nucleus?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of alpha particles?
Which of the following is a characteristic of alpha particles?
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Which type of decay releases positrons?
Which type of decay releases positrons?
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What happens to a nuclide showing alpha decay?
What happens to a nuclide showing alpha decay?
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How does alpha radiation interact with matter?
How does alpha radiation interact with matter?
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What is the radiation weighting factor (WR) for alpha particles?
What is the radiation weighting factor (WR) for alpha particles?
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Which term is synonymous with radioactive decay?
Which term is synonymous with radioactive decay?
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Study Notes
Radioactivity Overview
- Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of ionizing radiation from unstable atomic nuclei.
- Unstable atoms are called radionuclides.
- Common emissions include alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays (photons).
- Alpha decay involves the emission of an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
- The parent nucleus transforms into a daughter nucleus, with a mass number 4 less and atomic number 2 less, and the emitting of an alpha particle.
- Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle, which can be either an electron or a positron.
- Electron emission increases the atomic number by 1.
- Positron emission decreases the atomic number by 1.
- Gamma decay involves the emission of a gamma ray, which is a high-energy photon.
- No change in atomic number or mass number.
- Gamma rays often accompany alpha or beta decay.
- Radioactive materials are often found in nature.
- Some are produced through human activity (medical, industrial, etc.).
- Some unstable atoms (radioisotopes) can decay into stable isotopes.
Radioactive Decay Modes
- Alpha decay:
- Ejection of a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
- Highly ionizing, but short range.
- Easily stopped by a sheet of paper
- Beta decay:
- Emission of an electron (β⁻) or positron (β⁺).
- Less ionizing than alpha, but longer range.
- Can penetrate further than alpha radiation
- Gamma decay:
- Emission of a high-energy photon.
- Least ionizing, can penetrate significant distances.
- Requires high density materials like lead to be stopped.
Atomic Nuclei
- Mass number (A): the total number of protons and neutrons.
- Atomic number (Z): the number of protons.
- The number of protons and neutrons largely determine the stability of an atom.
Decay Constant
- Probability of a nucleus undergoing decay in a given time period.
- Relates to the half-life of a radioactive material.
Half-Life
- Time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay.
- Constant for a given radioactive substance.
Effective Half-Life
- When both radioactive decay and biological processes of elimination are present, it is less than the physical half-life.
Nuclear Medicine Imaging
- Uses radioactive substances to image anatomy and analyze physiological processes.
- Gamma camera detects gamma emissions from injected radiopharmaceuticals.
- Often fused with CT scans for better anatomical analysis and clearer images.
- Tc99m is commonly used.
- Procedures include bone scans.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of radioactivity, including the definitions and characteristics of unstable atomic nuclei or radionuclides. Learn about alpha, beta, and gamma decay, and understand the transformations that occur during these processes. This quiz covers the fundamental principles of radioactive emissions and their significance.
