Lecture 2 - The structure of the Atom

Question 1

what are protons and neutrons called?

Answer 1

nucleons

Question 2

what are isotopes?

Answer 2

atoms with the same atomic number and different mass number, they have the same chemical properties

Question 3

what is the kinetic isotope effect?

Answer 3

heavier isotopes react slightly slower

Question 4

what is the H3 isotope mainly used for?

Answer 4

it’s radioactive and used in labelling experiments

Question 5

Describe unstable isotopes (radioactive isotopes)

Answer 5

they undergo spontaneous disintegration in order to become a stable nucleus, this results in emission of small particles and radiation

Question 6

How are isotopes detected?

Answer 6

during mass spectrometry, it measures the molecular weight of atoms by observing the mass to charge ratio of ions

Question 7

what are some applications of mass spectrometry?

Answer 7

determining isotopic abundance, identification of small molecules and proteins

Question 8

what can calcium isotopes be used for?

Answer 8

osteoporosis research

Question 9

what can carbon-13 isotopes be used for?

Answer 9

looking at molecular structure and chemical research

Question 10

what can copper isotopes be used for?

Answer 10

noninvasive studies of copper metabolism

Question 11

what can helium isotopes be used for?

Answer 11

in vivo magnetic resonance studies

Question 12

what can hydrogen isotopes be used for?

Answer 12

vitamin research

Question 13

what can iron isotopes be used for?

Answer 13

metabolic tracer studies to identify genetic iron control mechanisms

Question 14

what can krypton isotopes be used for?

Answer 14

diagnosis of pulmonary disease

Question 15

what can nitrogen isotopes be used for?

Answer 15

whole body protein turnover, synthesis and catabolism

Question 16

what can oxygen isotopes be used for?

Answer 16

lean body mass measurements and obesity research

Question 17

what particles/radiation could be emitted during radioactive decay?

Answer 17

alpha, beta and gamma

Question 18

what is half life?

Answer 18

time taken for the activity of a given amount of a radioactive substance to decay to half its initial value

Question 19

Describe alpha decay

Answer 19

emission of an alpha particle, which is a helium nuclei, positively charged

Question 20

Describe gamma radiation

Answer 20

• emission of a gamma photon -High frequency electromagnetic radiation
• neutral charge
• no effect on atomic or mass number
• often produced along with alpha or beta

Question 21

Describe beta minus decay

Answer 21

emission of an electron

Question 22

Describe beta plus decay

Answer 22

emission of a positron (an anti electron) atomic number decreases

Question 23

what is the capture process?

Answer 23

where a small particle is collides with he nucleus and is added to it

Question 24

what is an industrial application of unstable isotopes?

Answer 24

• energy generation

- sterilisation of food and medical supplies

Question 25

what is a domestic application of unstable isotopes?

Answer 25

smoke detectors using Am241

Question 26

what is a medical application of unstable isotopes?

Answer 26

• diagnostic uses

- therapeutic -weakening or destroying particular targeted cells

Question 27

Describe medical imaging used with unstable isotopes

Answer 27

a radioisotope used for diagnosis must emit gamma rays of sufficient energy to escape from the body and it must have a half-life short enough for it to decay away soon after imaging is completed

Question 28

Describe therapy using unstable isotopes

Answer 28

selective damage to unhealthy tissue, a radioisotope used for therapy should be a strong beta emitter to damage cells in small areas