Radiation Flashcards
What is an isotope?
Atom, same atomic number (protons +electrons)but different mass number (neutrons)
What is deuterium?
An isotope of hydrogen that is heavier (has more neutrons) than hydrogen
What is the charge of a proton?
+1
What is the charge of a neutron?
0
What is the charge of a electron?
-1
What is the charge of a nucleus?
+
What is the mass of a proton?
1
What is the mass of a neutron?
1
What is the mass of a electron?
0
What is the location of a proton?
Nucleus
What is the location of a neutron?
Nucleus
What is the location of a electron?
Shell
What is the location of a nucleus?
Centre of the atom
What is a Nucleon?
A proton or neutron. It can be the same as the mass number.
35
Cl
17
What does the 35 mean?
Mass number,number of protons + neutrons ,nucleon number
35
Cl
17
What does the Cl mean?
Chlorine, symbol
35
Cl
17
What does the 17 mean?
Atomic number, proton number,
What is
37
X
17
An isotope of chlorine
The atomic number dictates the element
In atoms, what dictates the element?
Atomic number
If the mass number of something changes, what does it become?
An isotope
What is relative atomic mass?
A weighted mean mass
35.5
Cl
17
What does the 35.5 mean?
Relative atomic mass
What is the equation for working our relative atomic mass of two isotopes of:
75pervent 35
Cl
17
25percent 3537
Cl
17
100
=35.5
((25 = atoms and 37 = mass))
What happens to an isotope that’s very unstable?
It will emit radiation
What is an ion?
An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons
What happens to electrons when an atom becomes a positive ion by absorbing energy?
The electron moves all the way out and becomes free to move
What’s the symbol for alpha radiation?
a
What’s the symbol for beta minus radiation?
ß-
What’s the symbol for gamma radiation?
Curvy Y
What is nuclear radiation emitted from?
Emitted from the nucleus of the atom.
Why is nuclear radiation dangerous?
Because it is ionising, and so can then normal atoms into ions
What does neutron radiation emit?
Neutrons
What does beta+ radiation emit?
Anti electrons / positrons
What can a nucleus be?
Stable or unstable
What happens if a nucleus is unstable?
It tried to become mor stables, by ejecting mass of energy
What is the process of ejecting radiation called?
Decay
How is a sample of a radioactive isotope measured?
How much radioactive decay happens over a period of time
What is how much radioactive decay happens over a period of time measured in?
Bacquerels Bq
What happens in neutron decay?
When a nucleus emirs a neutron the mass number will GET smaller
What happens in alpha decay?
A large nucleus rejects a whole alpha particle
What happens in beta minus decay?
Neutron inside nucleus changes into proton and electron, and kicks electron out. Atom changes from one element to another.
What happens to the atomic and mass number in alpha decay?
atomic number will reduce by 2 and mass number by 4
Mass number nothing
What happens or atomic and mass number In beta minus decay?
Atomic number increase by 1
Mass number nothing
What happens in gamma decay?
Atoms decay and the protons and neutrons in nucleus rearrange themselves, releasing gamma energy
What is it called when Atoms decay and the protons and neutrons in nucleus rearrange themselves?
Nuclear rearrangement
What are the eight main ways to detect things we cannot see?
Taste Smell Touch Hearing Infrared Sensor Geiger counter Thermometer
What is background radiation?
Naturally occurring radiation that is present at all times
What can we use to measure radiation?
A Geiger counter
How does a Geiger counter work?
It detects when the gas inside the chamber is ionised by radiation
What was used before the Geiger counter to detect radiation? How did it work?
Photographic film - radiation turned it dark
What is background count?
Average reading of background radiation in a particular area at a particular time
What is activity? (In radiation
When a nucleus decays.
How many items can a nucleus decay?
Once. Once it has emitted radiation, it’s finished
Can or can’t we predict when decay is going to happen?
Can’t. It is entirely random.
Can or can’t you speed up the decay process? (In radiation
There are ways, but as far as we are concerned we can’t.
Can or can’t you predict when a radioactive sample is going to be safe? How?
Yes, using its half life
If you loved 100 years what would your half life be?
50
What is half life? (In radiation
Time taken for the activity of a substance to reduce by half
What is activity? What do we measure it in? (In radiation
When a nuclei is decaying and as such is emitting radiation. In counts per second
What does external alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
It can only travel a few cm, so not very dangerous. We can move away.
What does internal alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Will ionise body cells causing cancer/mutations, very dangerous, literally nothing
What does external gamma radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Travels onto your body, pretty dangerous, nothing as it travels so far
What does internal alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Nothing much as will move out of body before ionising, not very dangerous, by doing nothing
What is alpha radiation used to treat?
Surface skin cancer
What is gamma radiation used to treat?
Tumours
How does an atom become an ion?
When an electron in an atom is hit by X-ray/gamma ray, it escapes as radiation, allowing the atom to become the ion
What can ionising in DNA do?
Cause mutations, leading to cell damage and death (radiation sickness, burns) and cancer
How do alpha and beta ionise atoms?
Alpha attracts electrons, beta repels it
What are the five ways to stay safe when handling radiation radioactive materials?
Handle source with tongs Keep source in lead lined containers do not point sources at self or others Always wear gloves Always wear eye protection
What is irradiation?
When someone is exposed to radiation from a nearby source
What is contamination
When someone gets particles off a radioactive source on their person or inside their body
How can irradiation be prevented?
By simply moving away
How can contamination be prevented?
Stops when the source finishes decaying
