Radioactivity

Question 1

What is radioactivity?

Answer 1

is the spontaneous disintegration of unstable nucleus of an atom to form a stable nucleus with emission of radiations

Question 2

What are isotopes?

Answer 2

isotopes of an element are elements that have the same proton number and different neutron number

Question 3

What are the properties of alpha radiation?

Answer 3

▪ They are helium nuclei
▪ They are slightly deflected by both magnetic and electric fields because of their large mass.
▪ They are positively charged.
▪ They have the greatest ionizing power.
▪ They have the least penetrating power.
▪ They are stopped by a thick sheet of paper.
▪ They have a very short range in air.
▪ They affect the photographic films.
▪ They have speed less than the speed of light.
▪ They cause fluorescence when incident on fluorescent substance.

Question 4

What is half life?

Answer 4

Is the time taken for a radioactive element to decay to half its original mass

Question 5

What is the formula for half life?

Answer 5

Original mass(Mo) divided by mass after time (Mt) is equal to 2time (t) divided by T a half