Unit 1: Radioactive Decay Flashcards

1
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Atoms with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons

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2
Q

What do protons define?

A

An element, if you know the number of protons, you know the element.

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3
Q

What does the number of neutrons determine?

A

The stability of the nuclei

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4
Q

What is Carbon-14

Decomposes

A

It is unstable and decomposes naturally into different constituents

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5
Q

What happens in a chemical reaction?

Valence electrons, nucleus, isotopes

A
  • Change in valence electrons
  • No change in nucleus
  • Independent of isotopes
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6
Q

What happens in nuclear reactions?

Atomic nucleus, element, potential energy

A
  • Change in the atomic nucleus
  • Produces new element
  • Varies dramatically by each isotope
  • Could change the number of neutrons or protons
  • Large amounts of potential energy
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7
Q

What is the rate of nuclear reactions unaffected by?

Location, laboratory

A
  • Typical laboratory temperatures, catalyst, pressure, etc
  • Atomic location
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8
Q

How does the decomposition of the nucleus happen?

A

The decomposition of the nucleus can’t be influenced, it happens irrespective of the environment and is constant so it can’t be sped up or slowed down.

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9
Q

What happens in alpha decay?

Breaking down

A

The nucleus is breaking down and gives off an alpha particle similar to a helium atom.

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10
Q

What is an alpha particle?

A

An alpha particle is a helium atom that has lost 2 electrons so its given as 2+

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11
Q

What decay occurs when a nucleus has too many protons?

A

When an nucleus has too many protons it undergoes beta + decay.

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12
Q

What is the mass number?

A

The larger number

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13
Q

What is the atomic number

A

The smaller number - number of protons and electrons

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14
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in the product of alpha decay?

A

The product nucleus has an atomic number that is two less, and a mass number that is four less, than the original nucleus

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15
Q

What happens in beta decay?

A

A neutron is converted to a proton and an electron is ejected.

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16
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in the product of beta decay?

A

The product nucleus has an atomic number that is one more than the original nucleus. The mass number remains the same.

16
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in the product of beta decay?

A

The product nucleus has an atomic number that is one more than the original nucleus. The mass number remains the same.

17
Q

What is a positron?

A

Positron = electron with positive charge

18
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in the product of positron emission?

A

The product nucleus has an atomic number that is one less than the original nucleus. The mass number remains the same.

19
Q

What is electron capture?

A

When another orbital electron fills the vacancy in the inner-shell and an X-ray photon is emitted.

20
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in the product of electron capture?

A

The product nucleus has an atomic number that is one less than the original nucleus. The mass number remains the same. E.g. potassium-40 decay

21
Q

Why does gamma emission occur?

A

In some cases radioactive decay results in a product nucleus in an excited state which goes to a lower state with emission of electromagnetic radiation

22
Q

What is spontaneous fission?

A

A heavy nucleus splits into lighter nuclei with the release of energy