Name ______________________
Nuclear Chemistry
1. In which type of atom would radioactive decay most likely occur?
A. an atom with less than 26 protons
C. atoms with unstable nuclei
B. atoms that have 26 protons
D. atoms with less than 8 valence electrons
This graph shows the radioactive decay of Bismuth-210 as it decays to Thallium-206.
Mass of Bismuth (grams)
120
Radioactive Decay of Bismuth
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
Time (days)
Use the graph to answer the next three questions.
2. According to the graph, what is the half-life of Bismuth?
A. 25 days
B. 12.5 days
C. 5 days
D. 2.5 days
3. If you begin with 100 g of Bismuth-210, about how many grams of Bismuth-210 remain after 10 days?
A. None, it will have all been changed into thallium-206
C. 50 grams
B. 25 grams
D. 75 grams
4. If you begin with a sample of 100% Bismuth-210, how many days before the sample is 13% Bismuth-210
and 87% Thallium-206?
A. 5 days
B. 10 days
C. 15 days
D. 20 days
5. Which type of radiation has the most mass?
A. Alpha
B. Beta
C. Gamma
D. They all have the same mass
6. Which type of radiation has the most penetrating power?
A. Alpha
B. Beta
C. Gamma
D. The penetrating powers are the same
7. Which of the following correctly lists the type of reaction that releases the greatest amount of energy and
the source of that energy?
A. Chemical reactions: energy is released from changes in chemical bonds.
B. Chemical reactions: energy is released from changes in the nucleus.
C. Nuclear reactions: energy is released from changes in chemical bonds.
D. Nuclear reactions: energy is released from the changes in the nucleus.
8. What creates the light of the sun?
A. combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gas
B. nuclear fission
C. nuclear fusion
9. Which reaction takes place in a nuclear power plant using uranium as a fuel source?
A. a chemical reaction
B. nuclear fission
C. nuclear fusion
10. Which of the following is a nuclear reaction?
A. A balloon filled with hydrogen gas explodes in air when ignited
B. A pile of thorium atoms give off heat as they decay
C. Food is eaten and the energy in the food is released as heat
D. A stick of dynamite explodes
11. How would exposure to high levels of nuclear radiation affect a human?
A. loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, illness, death
B. skin and eyes begins to glow in the dark, extra limbs sprout from body
C. develops extraordinary strength, size, and/or supernatural abilities
D. high levels of nuclear radiation do not affect humans
12. What can be emitted by atomic nuclei as they decay?
A. Particles only
C. Wavelike radiations and particles
B. Wavelike radiations only
D. Nothing; atomic nuclei do not decay
13. Which of the following is not a concern about building nuclear power plants?
A. greenhouse gas emissions
C. cost ($)
B. radiation leaks
D. long-term storage of nuclear wastes
14. Which force is strongest?
a. The electrostatic force repelling two protons within the same nucleus
b. The electrostatic force repelling electrons of one atom from the electrons of another atom.
c. The strong nuclear force between two protons in the same nucleus
d. The force of attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electrons
15. Which reaction will produce the greatest amount of energy?
a. the combustion of 10 kg of dynamite with oxygen
b. the reaction of 10 kg of francium with an excess of water
c. the combustion of 10 kg of hydrogen gas with an excess of oxygen gas
d. the nuclear fission of 10 kg of uranium
16. Which particles given off by an unstable nucleus are actually electrons?
a. gamma radiation
c. alpha radiation
b. beta radiation d. electrons cannot come from the nucleus
17. The half-life of a radioactive element
a. depends on the amount of the radioactive element you begin with
b. depends only on the temperature and pressure
c. is the same for a given radioactive element, no matter how much you start with
d. is the same for all radioactive elements, no matter what their identity
18. What force is responsible for the large amount of energy released in nuclear reactions?
a. the electromagnetic force of attraction between the positive nucleus of one atom and the electrons
of another atom
b. the strong nuclear force which holds protons and neutrons together within a nucleus
c. the force of gravity which pulls matter together
d. the force of attraction between the nucleus and the electrons orbiting that nucleus