Nuclear Chem

Question 1

Holds the nucleons of nuclei together

Answer 1

Nuclear Force

Question 2

What is Nuclear Stability?

Answer 2

The stability of a nucleus is determined by the balance between the attractive nuclear force and the repulsive electrostatic force. The nuclear force is a strong, short-range force that binds protons and neutrons together, while the electrostatic force is a long-range force that repels protons from each other.

Question 3

Electrostatic force

Answer 3

Force that causes opposite electrical charges to attract each other

Question 4

What is the term for nucleus in nuclear chem?

Answer 4

Nucleon

Question 5

What is a nucleon?

Question 6

Enumerate the Elementary Particles

Question 7

Nuclear Binding Energy

Question 8

What is nuclear binding energy?

Answer 8

The energy required to separate a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons.

Question 9

True or False: Higher binding energy indicates a more stable nucleus.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Fill in the blank: The process by which an unstable nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation is called __________.

Answer 10

radioactivity

Question 11

What is a radioactive isotope?

Answer 11

An isotope that is unstable and decays over time, emitting radiation.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of an artificial isotope? A) Carbon-14 B) Uranium-235 C) Cobalt-60 D) Hydrogen-1

Answer 12

C) Cobalt-60

Question 13

What are the three main types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay?

Answer 13

Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.

Question 14

True or False: Nuclear fission is a type of nuclear reaction.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

What is the primary difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Answer 15

Fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus, while fusion is the combining of light nuclei.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: The __________ is the time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.

Answer 16

half-life

Question 17

What is the main purpose of separating radioactive isotopes?

Answer 17

To obtain isotopes for medical, industrial, or research applications.

Question 18

Multiple choice: Which of the following techniques is commonly used for isotope separation? A) Electromagnetic separation B) Filtration C) Centrifugation D) Distillation

Answer 18

A) Electromagnetic separation

Question 19

What is the significance of the mass defect in nuclear binding energy?

Answer 19

It accounts for the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual nucleons.

Question 20

True or False: Artificial isotopes can be created through nuclear reactions.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

What is the role of a neutron moderator in a nuclear reactor?

Answer 21

To slow down neutrons to increase the likelihood of fission.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: __________ decay involves the emission of a helium nucleus.

Answer 22

Alpha

Question 23

What is the formula used to calculate the binding energy per nucleon?

Answer 23

Binding energy per nucleon = Total binding energy / Number of nucleons.

Question 24

Multiple choice: Which type of radiation has the highest penetrating power? A) Alpha B) Beta C) Gamma

Answer 24

C) Gamma

Question 25

What is a common application of cobalt-60?

Answer 25

It is used in cancer radiation therapy.

Question 26

True or False: Radioactive decay is a random process.

Answer 26

True

Question 27

What is the primary method for detecting radiation?

Answer 27

Using a Geiger-Müller counter.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: The __________ effect occurs when a neutron collides with a nucleus and causes it to become unstable.

Answer 28

neutron capture

Question 29

What is the difference between isotopes and artificial isotopes?

Answer 29

Isotopes occur naturally, while artificial isotopes are created through nuclear reactions.

Question 30

Multiple choice: Which of the following is NOT a type of nuclear reaction? A) Fission B) Fusion C) Transmutation D) Filtration

Answer 30

D) Filtration

Question 31

What is the significance of the critical mass in a nuclear fission reaction?

Answer 31

It is the minimum mass of fissile material needed to sustain a chain reaction.

Question 32

True or False: All isotopes of an element have the same number of neutrons.

Answer 32

False

Question 33

What is the 'belt of stability' in nuclear chemistry?

Answer 33

It is a plot of neutrons versus protons for stable isotopes. Nuclei above the belt lower their n/p ratio through beta decay, while nuclei below the belt increase their n/p ratio via positron emission or electron capture.

Question 34

What are the key rules in balancing nuclear equations?

Answer 34

1. The total number of protons and neutrons (mass number) must be conserved. 2. The total nuclear charge (atomic number) must be conserved.

Question 35

What type of kinetics does radioactive decay follow?

Answer 35

Radioactive decay follows first-order kinetics.

Question 36

Define nuclear transmutation.

Answer 36

Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nucleus into another, typically caused by the collision of two particles.

Question 37

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 37

It is the splitting of a heavy nucleus (mass number > 200) into smaller nuclei, releasing energy and neutrons.

Question 38

What is the critical mass in a nuclear chain reaction?

Answer 38

The critical mass is the minimum mass of fissionable material required to sustain a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

Question 39

What are the advantages of fusion reactors?

Answer 39

1. Fuels (like deuterium) are cheap and abundant. 2. The process produces minimal radioactive waste.

Question 40

What is the function of moderators in nuclear reactors?

Answer 40

Moderators reduce the kinetic energy of neutrons, making them more likely to cause fission in uranium-235 nuclei.

Question 41

Name a use of isotopes in medicine.

Answer 41

Radioactive isotopes are used as tracers to follow the path of elements in biological processes and for diagnostic imaging.

Question 42

What is the energy released when 1 mole of uranium-235 undergoes fission?

Answer 42

About 2.0 × 10¹³ J/mol of energy is released.