what is radioactivity?

Question 1

how do radioactive substances decay?

Answer 1

naturally

Question 2

what is given out after decaying of radioactive substances?

Answer 2

alpha,beta or gamma

Question 3

why is radioactive decay a random process?

Answer 3

it isn’t possible to predict exactly when a nucleus will decay

Question 4

what does nuclear radiation cause?

Answer 4

ionisation

Question 5

how does it cause ionisation?

Answer 5

by removing electrons from atoms or causing them to gain electrons

Question 6

what is another word for an radioactive isotope?

Answer 6

radioisotope

Question 7

why do radioisotopes have unstable nuclei?

Answer 7

their nuclear particles aren’t held together strongly enough

Question 8

what is the half-life of a radio isotope?

Answer 8

the average time for half the nuclei present to decay. The half life cannot be changed

Question 9

what is a nucleon?

Answer 9

a particle found in the nucleus. Meaning protons and neutrons are nucleons

Question 10

what does A Z and X mean in the nucleus of an atom?

Answer 10

a= atomic mass (or nucleon number)
z= atomic number (or proton number)
x= chemical symbol for the element

Question 11

what is the atomic number made up from?

Answer 11

the number of protons in the nucleus

Question 12

how many protons and neutrons does the carbon isotope have in it?

Answer 12

6 protons and 8 neutrons in its nucleus

Question 13

when an alpha or a beta particle is emmited from the nucleus of an atom what is the remaining nucleus?

Answer 13

a different element

Question 14

what are alpha particles good for?

Answer 14

ionising

Question 15

what is alpha also?

Answer 15

the largest particles emmited in radioactive decay

Question 16

what does this mean?

Answer 16

they are more likely to strike atoms of the material they are passing through, ionising them.

Question 17

name some properties of alpha?

Answer 17

positively charged
large mass
a helium nucleus
2 protons and 2 neutrons

Question 18

name some properties of beta?

Answer 18

negatively charged
small mass
travels very fast
is an electron

Question 19

what happens to an alpha particle during decay?

Answer 19

mass number decreases by 4
nucleus has 2 fewer neutrons
2 fewer protons
atomic number decreases by 2

Question 20

what happens to an beta particle during decay?

Answer 20

mass number is unchanged
nucleus has one less neutron
one less proton
atomic number increases by one

Question 21

what is alphas nuclear equation for decay?

Answer 21

a

Question 22

what is betas nuclear equation for decay?

Answer 22

a