Nuclear equations

Question 1

What is contamination

Answer 1

The unwanted presence of radioactive atoms on or within a material or body

Question 2

What is irradiation?

Answer 2

The process of exposing a material or body to nuclear radiation. The irradiated object doesn’t become radioactive.

Question 3

What kind of radiation is happening here and why?

238 234 4
92 U —> 90 Th + 2 He

Answer 3

Alpha radiation:

Two numbers change: the mass number and the atomic number. The mass number goes from 238 to 234. It decreases by 4. The atomic number goes from 92 to 90. It decreases by 2. Helium has a mass of 4 and atomic number of 2, which is also the same as an alpha particle. It must be alpha radiation,

Question 4

What kind of radiation is happening here and why?

14 14 0
6 C —-> 7 N + -1 e

Answer 4

Beta radiation -

The mass number stays the same, however the atomic mass goes down by 1. Electrons have a charge of -1, which is what beta radiation is.

Question 5

What kind of radiation is happening here and why?

Uranium - 238 —-> Uranium 238 —> 0
92 92 0 y

Answer 5

Gamma radiation -

It does not cause any changed in the mass or charge of the nucleus