Nuclear Reactions

Question 1

What is the atomic number?

Answer 1

The number of protons in a nucleus

Question 2

What is the mass number?

Answer 2

The number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus

Question 3

What are isotopes?

Answer 3

Atoms of the same element with similar chemical properties but undergo different nuclear reactions

Question 4

What are the 3 types of radioactive decay?

Answer 4

Alpha, Beta, Gamma

Question 5

What does nuclear decay do?

Answer 5

Makes an atom more stable

Question 6

What is alpha decay?

Answer 6

When a nucleus emits a particle with 2 protons and 2 neutrons (an alpha particle)

Question 7

How can you identify alpha decay?

Answer 7

When the atomic number of an atom reduces by 2 and the mass number reduces by 4

Question 8

What are alpha particles commonly represented as?

Answer 8

A Helium nucleus

Question 9

What happens during beta decay?

Answer 9

A Neutron decays to become a proton resulting in neutrino being emitted by the neutron

Question 10

What is a beta particle?

Answer 10

An electron

Question 11

How can you identify beta decay?

Answer 11

The atomic number of the isotope increases but the mass number is unchanged

Question 12

What is gamma emission?

Answer 12

When an isotope emits a high energy photon of electromagnetic radiation to become more stable

Question 13

What is unique about gamma radiation?

Answer 13

Gamma Photons are part of the electromagnetic spectrum so have no mass or change, as a result they do jot effect the atomic or mass number of an isotope

Question 14

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 14

When a larger nucleus splits into 2 smaller nuclei

Question 15

What are the 2 types of nuclear fission?

Answer 15

Spontaneous and induced

Question 16

What is spontaneous nuclear fission?

Answer 16

A natural process in which a larger nucleus splits into 2 smaller nuclei and individual neutrons

Question 17

What must be equal when looking at nuclear equations?

Answer 17

The total mass and atomic numbers of each side

Question 18

What is induced nuclear fission?

Answer 18

When a large nucleus is bombarded with neutrons and absorbed one of them, making the nucleus unstable and causing it to split

Question 19

How could you identify induced fission when looking at an equation?

Answer 19

A Neutron will have been added to the original isotope (on the LHS)

Question 20

How does a chain reaction occur in nuclear fission?

Answer 20

The neutrons released by the reaction can go on to split other nuclei

Question 21

When does nuclear fusion take place?

Answer 21

When 2 smaller nuclei join together to make a larger nucleus.

Question 22

What type of reaction takes place in stars?

Answer 22

Nuclear fusion is what gives stars their energy

Question 23

Which equation would you use to calculate the energy released in a nuclear reaction?

Answer 23

E = mc (squared)
Where m is the difference in mass before and after the reaction

Question 24

What is necessary for fusion reactions to occur?

Answer 24

Very high temperatures