University:
Campbell University
Course:
CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I
Academic year:

2024
Views:

340

Pages:

2
Author:

floribund1qn

KEY Radioactivity Name - _________________ 1.) What happens when a radioactive atom undergoes radioactive decay? When a radioactive atom undergoes radioactive decay the nucleus will release radiation in the form of alpha, beta or gamma. This will often cause transmutation to occur and a new element to be made as the daughter atom. 2.) Why are alpha and beta radiation referred to as particles, while gamma radiation is referred to as rays? Alpha and beta radiation are referred to as particles because they are matter (mass and take up space) where as gamma radiation is just raw energy like light or heat. 3.) Write a definition for transmutation in your own words. Transmutation is the changing of an atom into a different atom by releasing radiation. 4.) In the following generic element 𝐷 what happens to the atomic number (A) and mass number (Z) during alpha decay? During alpha decay a helium nucleus is ejected from the nucleus 𝐻𝑒. Therefore the atomic mass must decrease by 4 and the atomic number by 2 for mass and energy to be conserved. 5.) The following parent isotopes undergo alpha decay. Write the nuclear equation for these transmutations. a.) tungsten-180 __ b.) samarium-147 ____ 𝑆𝑚  𝐻𝑒 + 𝑁𝑑____ c.) sodium-20 _____ 𝑁𝑎  𝐻𝑒 + 𝐹 _____ 𝑊  𝐻𝑒 + 𝐻𝑓___ 6.) The mass number of an atom undergoing beta decay does not change. However, the daughter nucleus is a different element than the parent. Explain how this is possible. The daughter nucleus changes from the parent during beta decay because a neutron breaks into a proton and an electron. This causes the proton number to increase by one and the electron from the broken neutron is emitted as beta decay. This new proton number causes a new element to be formed. 7.) The following parent isotopes undergo beta decay. Write the nuclear equation for this transmutation. a.) nickel-64 _____ 𝑁𝑖  𝑒 + 𝐶𝑢_____ 1 b.) tritium _______ 𝐻  _ 𝑒 + c.) iron-59 ______ 𝐹𝑒  𝑒 + 𝐻𝑒______ KEY 𝐶𝑜______ 8.) Iron-60 undergoes beta decay. The daughter nucleus is in an excited state and undergoes gamma decay. Write both nuclear equations to show these changes. 𝐶𝑜 ∗ 𝐹𝑒 → 𝑒 𝐶𝑜 ∗ → 𝐶𝑜 𝛾 9.) State whether the following descriptions apply to alpha, beta or gamma radiation: a.) has a negative charge ____beta___ b.) is a helium nucleus ____alpha___ c.) its path is deflected by a magnet ____alpha and beta____ d.) is similar to x-rays ____gamma____ e.) is stopped by a few sheets of paper ____alpha___ f.) an electric charge does not affect its path ____gamma____ g.) has the most mass ____alpha____ h.) easily penetrates skin and tissue ____gamma___ 10.) Complete the following nuclear equations: a.) 𝑁𝑝 → 𝑃𝑢 𝑒 b.) 𝑇ℎ → 𝑅𝑎 𝐻𝑒 c.) 𝐶→ 𝑁 𝑒 d.) 𝐷𝑦 ∗ → e.) 𝑈→ 𝑇ℎ f.) 𝐵𝑖 → 𝑇𝑙 g.) 𝑇ℎ → 𝑃𝑎 h.) 𝑁𝑝 → 𝑃𝑢 i.) 𝑇𝑐 ∗ → 𝐷𝑦 𝑇𝑐 𝛾 𝐻𝑒 𝐻𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝛾 2