Topic 1- Elements Of Life Flashcards
What is the relative mass, charge and location of a neutron?
Relative mass= 1
Charge= 0
Location= nucleus
What is the relative mass, charge and location of an electron?
Relative mass= 0.00055
Charge= -1
Location= energy levels around the nucleus
What is the relative mass, charge and location of a proton?
Relative mass= 1
Charge= +1
Location= nucleus
What are the atomic number and the mass number of an element?
Atomic number= the number of protons (and electrons)
Mass number= the number of protons and neutrons
What is an isotope?
Atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number (proton number) but different mass numbers (numbers of neutrons)
How can you work out the relative mass of an element from all of its isotopes?
100
What does radioactive mean?
When the nucleus of an atom is unstable and breaks down (decays) randomly emitting radiation. (Either alpha, beta or gamma)
What is alpha decay?
A helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
Range in air: few cm
Stopped by: paper
Deflection by an electrical field: low
What is beta decay?
An electron, a neutron is converted into a proton and a electron, the electron is ejected from the nucleus.
Range in air: a few m
Stopped by: aluminium foil
Deflection by electrical field: high
What is gamma decay?
An imparticulate high frequency electromagnetic wave.
Range in air: very long
Stopped by: lead sheet
Deflection by electrical field: nil
What is nuclear fusion?
2 light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a single heavier nucleus of a new element. This releases large quantities of energy.
Large amounts of energy are needed because at normal temperatures the 2 positive nuclei repel at high temperatures nuclei move with more energy and so collide with enough energy to overcome the energy barrier
What is half life?
The time taken for half of a radioactive nuclei to decay.
How can you use radioisotopes in geology?
Geological clocks- if the original isotope decays to eventually form a stable daughter product then measuring the ratio of parent:daughter we can predict the age of the rock.
What criteria must be filled to predict the age of a rock using radioisotopes?
- half life of the radioisotope must be known accurately
- there must have been no movement of parent/daughter into/out of the rock
- must be no ‘resetting’ of the radioactive clock e.g. Melting and reforming
How can radioisotopes be used to date archeological remains?
The ratio of C12 to C14, when an organism dies the ratio of C12 to C14 gradually increases. This makes it useful for dating remains up to about 50,000 years old. Beyond this the amount of C14 remaining is so small that measurements become difficult
What are radioactive tracers used for? What should be their properties?
Radioactive isotopes can be injected into the body to locate problems e.g. Cancerous tumours.
They should be gamma emitters- to enable detection and minimise ionisation of cells.
They should have a short half life to allow detection but minimise harm to the patient
Why do all atoms react to gain a full outer shell?
Because this is the most stable and low energy arrangement.