Radioactivity and Nuclear Reactions

Question 1

Radioactivity is?

Answer 1

Radioactivity is the spontaneous breakdown of an unstable nucleus in an atom which involves the release of electromagnetic particles.

Question 2

What is a radioisotope?

Answer 2

A radioactive atom.

Question 3

What is a Half-life?

Answer 3

How long it takes for half of present nuclei present in a sample to radioactively decay.

Question 4

Who was Henri Becquerel?

Answer 4

A French physicist that discovered radioactivity along with Marie Curie.

Question 5

Polonium facts-

Answer 5

Named after Poland, very rare natural element, a common source of neutrons by combining it with beryllium, eliminates static electricity and dust from photographic film, has over 25 known isotopes.

Question 6

Radon facts-

Answer 6

Comes from the radioactive decay of radium, is naturally radioactive, is a colorless gas at room temperature, glows yellow when solid, is naturally emoted from the ground in some regions causing cancer.

Question 7

Radium facts-

Answer 7

Highly reactive metal, brilliant white metal but blackens in air, naturally occurs from uranium and thorium decay, used to be used in watches.

Question 8

What are the various carbon isotopes uses?

Answer 8

Carbon 12- most common carbon and standard for atomic weight.

Carbon 13- non-radioactive and often used for isotopic labeling studies.

Carbon 14- used in Carbon dating, which studies carbons half life decay to discover the age of organic materials.

Question 9

Describe alpha radiation particles.

Answer 9

Radiation composed of helium-4 nuclei, very slow and not penetrating, not radioactive & become a helium atom eventually.

Question 10

Describe beta radiation particles.

Answer 10

Radiation composed of high velocity electrons ejected from an unstable nucleus, can travel several meters but is stopped by solids, if the beta doesn’t remove excess energy it will emit gamma rays.

Question 11

Describe gamma rays.

Answer 11

Radiation composed of high-energy photons in the form of electromagnetic radiation, easily travels many meters, easily penetrates most materials, including several centimeters into human tissue. Frequently accompanies other types of radiation.

Question 12

What did Johannesburg Wilhelm Geiger do?

Answer 12

Along with Walther Müller, Geiger developed a device that could detect radioactive emissions. It is used in laboratories all around the world.

Question 13

What is a nuclear reaction?

Answer 13

Changes that occur in the structure of atomic nuclei. They produce nuclear energy.

Question 14

What is nuclear fission?

Answer 14

A nuclear reaction that occurs when an atomic nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei that are about equivalent size. This releases energy. Uranium splits easily and leads to a chain reaction as other uranium nuclei are split.

Question 15

Describe uranium.

Answer 15

First identified in 1784, uranium is almost the heaviest natural element occurring on earth. It is highly radioactive, toxic, and carcinogenic. It has over 16 isotopes. It is primarily used as a nuclear fuel and explosive.

Question 16

What is nuclear fusion?

Answer 16

A nuclear reaction that occurs when Nuclei join to make a bigger nucleus. Energy is given off in this reaction. It requires very hot conditions. This is what powers the stars.

Question 17

What did Enrico Fermi do?

Answer 17

Enrico Fermi worked on beta decay, the development of the first nuclear reactor, his contribution to the quantum theory, and worked on the Manhattan project. Element 100 is named after him.

Question 18

Describe plutonium.

Answer 18

Discovered at the university of California, is a very heavy silvery metal, is a very rare radioactive element, is mainly used as a fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs.