Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards

1
Q

radioisotope

A

an isotope of an element that emits radiation caused by nuclear instability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

stable isotopes

A

24 Mg 127I

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

examples of unstable isotopes

A

23Mg and 27Mg
125I and 131 I
235 U
238 U

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

alpha particle

A

4He2

2 protons and 2 neutrons are emitted as an alpha particle
mass number= 4
charge= 2+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

beta particle

A

0e-1
a neutron changes to a proton and an electron is emitted

mass number= 0
charge= -1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

positron

A

0e+1

a proton changes to a neutron and positron is emitted

mass number= 0
charge= 1+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

gamma ray

A

γ

energy is lost to stabilise the nucleus

mass number= 1
charge= +1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

proton

A

1H1

mass number= 1
charge= +1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

neutron

A

1n0

a neutron is emiited

mass number= 1
charge= 0

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what does ionizing radiation do?

A

it strikes molecules in its path and knocks away electrons in molecules forming unstable ions. it can cause undesirable chemical reactions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

effect of ionizing radiation on cells

A

damages the cells most sensitive to radiation, rapidly dividing cells in bone marrow, skin, and reproductive organs thus causing cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

effect of ionizing radiation of DNA

A

ionising radiation forms unstable ions such as H2O+ which readily reacts with the electrons of the pi bond of the nitrogen bases of DNA which leads to mutations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

penetration of alpha radiation

A

does not penetrate the human body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

penetration of beta radiation

A

penetrated through living organs and tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

penetration of gamma radiation

A

penetrates completely

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

radiation protection from alpha particles

A

paper and clothing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

radiation protection from beta particles

A

lab coat and gloves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

radiation protection from gamma rays

A

dense shielding such as lead and concrete

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

how can individuals who work in an environment where radioactive materials are present limit their exposure?

A
  1. minimizing the amount of time spent near a radioactive source
  2. increasing the distance from the source
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what happens as you double your distance from the radiation source?

A

the intensity of the radiation drops to (1/2)^2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

radioactive decay

A

the nucleus breaks down by emitting radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is nuclear stability affected by?

A

the actual number of nucleons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

which nuclei are always radioactive

A

Z>84

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

which number of protons and neutrons is more stable

A

an even number of protons and neutrons is more stable than odd

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what suggests the type of radioactive decay an isotope may undergo?

A

the ratio between the number of neutrons and the number of protons N/Z

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

N/Z too high

A

an isotope will tend to reduce the number of neutrons: beta decay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

N/Z too low

A

the radioisotopes will undergo either positron emission or electron capture to reduce the number of protons and increase the number of neutrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

which is the heaviest element with at least one stable isotope?

A

Bismuth (Bi) Z =83

29
Q

which number of neutrons/protons ensures the highest stability

A

N/Z = 2,8,20,28,50,82, 126

30
Q

transmutation

A

when a stable nucleus is converted to a radioactive nucleus by bombarding it with a small particle

31
Q

nuclear fission

A

with uranium, you obtain an unstable isotope that breaks down to lighter elements releasing large amounts of energy. in a chain reaction, there is a rapid increase in the number of high-energy neutrons available to react with more uranium

32
Q

nuclear fusion

A

2 smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus: the power of the sun

33
Q

geiger count

A

detects beta and gamma radation
uses ions produced by radiation to create an electrical current

34
Q

units for measuring radiation

A

curie (Ci)
becquerel (Bq)
rad (radiation absobed dose)
rem (radiation equivalent in humans)

35
Q

curie (Ci)

A

the number of disintegrations that occurs in 1s for 1g of radium equal to 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations/s

36
Q

becquerel (Bq)

A

the SI unit of radiation activity which is 1 disintegration/s

37
Q

rad (radiation absorbed dose)

A

measures the amount of radiation absorbed by a gram of material such as body tissue

38
Q

rem (radiation equivalent in humans)

A

measures the biological effects of different kinds of radiation

39
Q

what does rem measure?

A
  1. alpha particles: which do not penetrate the skin
  2. high energy radiation: which causes more damage than alpha particles and includes beta particles, high-energy protons and neutrons
  3. gamma radiation
40
Q

how to determine the equivalent dose/ rem dose

A

biological damage (rem) = absorbed dose (rad) x factor

41
Q

what is the factor in the equation to determine the equivalent/rem dose for beta and gamma radiation

A

1

42
Q

what is the factor in the equation to determine the equivalent/rem dose for high-energy protons and neutrons

A

10

43
Q

what is the factor in the equation to determine the equivalent/rem dose for alpha particles

A

20

44
Q

what is the SI unit for equivalent dose?

A

sievert (Sv)

45
Q

how many rem is 1Sv?

A

1Sv= 100rem

46
Q

what has the FDA approved?

A

approved the dose of 0.3kGy to 1kGy of radiation produced by cobalt-60, and cesium 137 for the treatment of foods. gamma rays pass through the food and kill the bacteria without harming the food to prevent foodborne illnesses

47
Q

what happens to tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries and mushrooms?

A

they are being irradiated to allow them to be harvested when they are completely ripe to extend their shelf life

48
Q

what do people who work in radiation laboratories wear?

A

dosimeters

49
Q

dosimeters

A

detect the amount of radiation exposrure from X-rays, gamma rays and beta particles

50
Q

how much is the average person exposed to radiation

A

360mrem= 3.6mSv annually

51
Q

where do we get exposure to radiation

A
  • buildings where we live and work
  • food and water
  • the air we breathe
52
Q

sources of naturally occurring isotopes

A
  • potassium 40 in potassium-containing foods
  • cosmic radiation from the sun
53
Q

lethal dose LD50

A

exposure to radiation of 500 rem is expected to cause death in 50% of the people receiving the dose

54
Q

which radiation exposure cannot be detected?

A

less than 0.25 Sv

55
Q

half-life of a radioisotope

A

the time for the radiation level to decrease to one-half of the original value

56
Q

list the significance of C-14

A
  • incorporated in CO2: fixated in organic compounds through photosynthesis
  • can be used to date artifacts of organic origin dating up to 40-60,000 years ago
57
Q

carbon-14 decay

A

decays via beta emission too N-14 with a half-life of 5730 years

58
Q

why are radioisotopes with short half-lives used in medicine?

A
  1. the cells in the body do not differentiate between non-radioactive atoms and radioactive atoms
  2. once incorporated into cells, the radioactive atoms are detected because they emit radiation, giving an image of an organ
59
Q

what happens after a radioisotope is ingested by the patient

A
  1. the scanner moves slowly over the organ where the radioisotope is absorbed
  2. the radiologist determines the level and location of the radioactivity emitted by the radioisotope
  3. the gamma rays emitted from the radioisotope can be used to expose a photographic plate, producing a scan of the organ
60
Q

positron emission tomography

A

used to study brain function, metabolism, and blood flow

61
Q

how does a PET work

A

it utilizes positron emitters with short half-lives. might be carbon-11, oxygen-15, nitrogen-13 or fluorine-18.

it combines with electrons after emission to produce gamma rays, which are then detected by computers creating a 3d image of the activity of the organ

62
Q

computed tomography CT

A

used to scan organs such as the brain, lungs, and heart

63
Q

how does a CT scan work

A

a computer monitors the absorption X-ray beams directed at the organ in successive layers

64
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A

does not involve X-ray radiation.
it is based on the absorption of energy when protons in hydrogen atoms are excited by a strong magnetic field.

65
Q

brachytherapy

A

internal form of radiation therapy

66
Q

permanent brachytherapy

A
  • involves the implantation of 40 or more titanium capsules/seeds in the malignant area
  • utilises I 125, Pa 103, and Ce 131 in the seeds which decay by gamma emission
  • the radiation from the seeds destroys the cancer by interfering with the reproduction of cancer cells
67
Q

what is brachytherapy used for

A

treatment option for prostate cancer in males

68
Q

temporary brachytherapy

A
  • involves the implantation of long needles containing iridium-192 in the tumor
  • can be used to deliver a higher dose of radiation over a shorter time