Nuclear Chemistry

Question 1

How are heavy elements formed?

Answer 1

extreme conditions in starts cause the fusion of lighter elements to create heavier elements

Question 2

What factors contribute to background radiation?

Answer 2

cosmic rays, rocks and soil, living things

Question 3

What is radioactive decay?

Answer 3

Radioactive decay is the breakdown of the nucleus of an unstable element to release energy and matter from the nucleus of an atom.

Question 4

Name three different types of radiation

Answer 4

Alpha, beta, gamma

Question 5

Give the order of most penetrative to least of the radiation types

Answer 5

Gamma (penetrates most objects), Beta Alpha

Question 6

What is half-life?

Answer 6

Half-life is the time taken for half the nuclei of a particular isotope to decay

Question 7

Give examples of radioisotopes uses in medicine and industry

Answer 7

gamma ray tracers are used in medicine

gamma radiation is used to examine castings and welds for imperfections

Question 8

What can carbon dating be used for?

Answer 8

To date materials

Question 9

How can radioisotopes be used to produce energy?

Answer 9

In a nuclear reactor, naturally occurring isotopes of uranium are bombarded with neutrons (nuclear fission)
Hydrogen atoms fuse together to produce helium atoms (nuclear fusion)