Radioactivity

Question 1

What is an isotope?

Answer 1

Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Question 2

How big is the radius of an atom?

Answer 2

1x10^-10m

Question 3

What does it mean if an atom is radioactive?

Answer 3

If an atom is radioactive it means it emits ionising radiation or particles.

Question 4

What is an alpha particle?

Answer 4

An alpha particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons and can be also called a helium nucleus,

Question 5

What is a beta particle?

Answer 5

A fast moving electron emitted from the nucleus when a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton.

Question 6

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in alpha radiation?

Answer 6

The mass number will decrease by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2.

Question 7

Explain why ionising radiation is dangerous?

Answer 7

Ionising radiation is dangerous because the ionisation can mutate DNA, potentially leading to abnormal cell growth.

Question 8

What happens to the mass number and the atomic number in beta radiation?

Answer 8

The mass number stays the same and the atomic number increases by 1.