radioactiviy

Question 1

A device used to detect and measure radioactive particles.

Answer 1

A Geiger counter.

Question 2

Why are some elements radioactive

Answer 2

Bcs their nucleus is trying to be stable, greater stability means lower energy, so the nucleus wants to loose energy.
Some combinations of of neutrons and protons just don’t get a long well.

Question 3

Explain Beta Decay

Answer 3

Too many neutrons, too few protons. An electron is pulled off of a neutron, which turns into a proton. So, the atomic number increases by 1, but the mass number is unchanged.

Question 4

Positron emission

Answer 4

Too many protons, too few neutrons. A positron or a positive electron is pulled off of a proton, which is turned into a neutron. So, atomic number decreases by 1, but atomic mass is unchanged

Question 5

Gamma decay

Answer 5

Too much energy. A nucleus releases energy in form of high energy radiation. So, the nucleus becomes more stable, but unchanged.
N.B: when a nuclei emit alpha or beta particles, they are sometimes left in high energy state, but when they emit gamma rays, they become stable.
- it generally accompanies other forms of radioactive decay.

Question 6

Alpha decay

Answer 6

Nucleus is heavy. Two protons and two neutrons split off the nucleus.