1.4 Isotopes Radioisotopes and Atomic Mass

Question 1

isotope

Answer 1

A form of an element in which the atoms have the
same number of protons as all other forms of that
element, but a different number of neutrons

Question 2

Isotopes have a different ____________ and there is a
different number of ________

Answer 2

mass number; neutrons

Question 3

isotope abundance

Answer 3

In nature, various isotopes for each element exist in various percentages

Question 4

Mass spectrometers

Answer 4

used to determine the mass and abundance
of isotopes

Question 5

Some isotopes are ________, meaning that they spontaneous ________ (decay) into more stable isotopes

Answer 5

radioactive; disintegrate

Question 6

Energy or very small particles (nuclear radiation) is _________ from the nucleus of a radioisotope as it decays

Answer 6

emitted

Question 7

Alpha Particle:

Answer 7

A positively charged particle with the same structure as the nucleus of a helium atom

Question 8

Beta Particle

Answer 8

A negatively charged particle (electron)

Question 9

Gamma ray

Answer 9

A form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that is massless

Question 10

Order of strength between gamma, beta and alpha

Answer 10

Gamma (highest), Beta, Alpha (lowest)

Question 11

Atomic Mass Unit (symbol “u”):

Answer 11

A very small unit of mass defined as 1/12
the mass of a carbon-12 atom

Question 12

Atomic Mass

Answer 12

The weighted average of the masses
of all the naturally-occurring isotopes of an element