Chapter 4

Question 1

Beta decay turns a neutron into a ________ & it ejects an electron or vise versa (negative ebeta decay gains an electron for the daughter atom & mass number stays the same)( when theMCAT mention beta decay without context it referring to negative beta decay)

Answer 1

proton

Question 2

Positive beta decay (position emission)

Answer 2

When the daughter atom gains a proton

Question 3

Electron capture

Answer 3

Reduced the neutrons so it gains a proton

Question 4

Gamma decay

Answer 4

Brings an excited nucleus to a lower energy state after an alpha or beta decay (doesn’t change anything)

Question 5

Half life

Answer 5

Is the time it takes for one half of some sample of the substance to decay (the shorter the half life then the faster the decay)

Question 6

delta m (mass defect) which is also the difference of the nuclear binding energy, what is its formula?

Answer 6

delta m = (total mass of separate nucleons) - (mass od nucleus)

Question 7

What is the formula for the nuclear binding energy (Eb)

Answer 7

E(b)= mc^2( c is the speed of light) (or E(b) in eV = m(in amu) x 931.5 MeV)

Question 8

What is the equation related to the emission spectrum

Answer 8

E (photon) = h(c/wave-length) (h is plank constant 6.63 x 10^-34 & c is the speed of light)

Question 9

What does the letter Z represent?

Answer 9

It’s the atomic number (the number of protons on an atom)

Question 10

What does the letter A represent?

Answer 10

Its the mass number (A= Z + N (N is neutrons))

Question 11

Isotopes

Answer 11

When two atoms of the same element differ in their number of neutrons (same atomic number but different mass number)

Question 12

The atomic weight of an element is the weight _______________ of its mass

Answer 12

Average

Question 13

Unstable nuclei are radioactive & undergo ______________ to make them more stable

Answer 13

Radioactive decay

Question 14

What are the different types of radioactive decay?

Answer 14

Alpha, negative beta, positive beta, gamma

Question 15

Alpha decay does what?

Answer 15

Reduce the atomic mass by 4 & the atomic number by 2 (reduced protons by 2)

Question 16

All types of beta decay do what?

Answer 16

Transfer a neutron into a proton

Question 17

Negative beta decay (most common)

Answer 17

Increases the atomic number by 1 (protons increase by 1, & should assume negative decay unless stated otherwise)

Question 18

Positive decay (positron emission)

Answer 18

Converts a proton into a neutron, atomic number decreases by 1 (lose a proton)

Question 19

Electron capture reduce atomic number (proton) by __

Answer 19

1

Question 20

Gamma decay relax an excited state element & doesn’t ___________ anything

Answer 20

Change

Question 21

___________ is the time it takes for 1/2 of the sample to decay

Answer 21

Half-life