List the following electromagnetic spectrum wave
types in order from lowest energy to highest energy:
Gamma rays
Infrared
Microwaves
Radiowaves
Ultraviolet
Visible light
X-rays
List the following electromagnetic spectrum wave
types in order from lowest energy to highest energy:
Radiowaves
Microwaves
Infrared
Visible light
Ultraviolet
X-rays
Gamma rays
What is the relationship between wavelength and
frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum?
What is the relationship between wavelength and
frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum?
As wavelength decreases, frequency increases
What is the relationship between frequency and energy
in the electromagnetic spectrum?
What is the relationship between frequency and energy
in the electromagnetic spectrum?
As frequency increases, energy increases
Which of the wave types within the electromagnetic
spectrum are potentially ionizing?
Which of the wave types within the electromagnetic
spectrum are potentially ionizing?
Ultraviolet
X-rays
Gamma rays
Which of the statements below is an accurate
description of what occurs during ionization of an
atom?
a. An atom loses a proton and becomes a negatively
charged ion.
b. An atom loses an electron and becomes a positively
charged ion.
c. An atom loses an electron and becomes a negatively
charged ion.
d. An atom gains a neutron and its atomic mass
increases by 1.
Which of the statements below is an accurate
description of what occurs during ionization of an
atom?
a. An atom loses a proton and becomes a negatively
charged ion.
b. An atom loses an electron and becomes a positively
charged ion.
c. An atom loses an electron and becomes a negatively
charged ion.
d. An atom gains a neutron and its atomic mass
increases by 1.
How many prot0ns, neutrons and electrons in an atom
of Platinum?
How many prot0ns, neutrons and electrons in an atom
of Platinum?
Protons = 78
Neutrons = 117
Electrons = 78
Referring to the Periodic Table, we can see that platinum, Pt, has
an atomic number of 78. Thus Pt has 78 protons. As we are
speaking of an uncharged atom, we know that the number of
electrons is equal to the number of protons, and is therefore also
78. Referring to the Periodic Table, we can see that platinum has
an average atomic mass of 195.08 amu. Rounding to the nearest
whole number gives 195 amu. As amu = # protons + # neutrons, we
can calculate # neutrons = amu - # protons, which is 195 – 78 = 117.
Thus platinum has 117 neutrons.
Element identity (what element it is) is determined by
A) its atomic number.
B) its mass number.
C) its neutron number.
D) All of these are correct.
Element identity (what element it is) is determined by
A) its atomic number.
B) its mass number.
C) its neutron number.
D) All of these are correct.
Element identity, meaning the element NAME, is
determined solely be the number of protons, and
hence solely by atomic number.
How many prot0ns, neutrons and electrons in
a Ba2+ ion?
How many prot0ns, neutrons and electrons in
a Ba2+ ion?
Protons = 56, Neutrons = 81, Electrons = 54
Referring to the Periodic Table, we can see that Ba, barium, has an
atomic number of 56. Thus Ba2+ has 56 protons. As we are
speaking of an ion with a +2 positive charge, this atom has LOST
TWO ELECTRONS. Therefore, this ion has 56 - 2 electrons = 54
electrons. Referring to the Periodic Table, we can see that barium
has an average atomic mass of 137.327 amu. As electrons do not
contribute to the atomic mass (having virtually no mass
themselves), this barium ion has the same average atomic mass.
Rounding to the nearest whole number gives 137 amu. As amu = #
protons + # neutrons, we can calculate # neutrons = amu - #
protons, which is 137 – 56 = 81. Thus, our barium ion has 81
neutrons.
Isotopes of an element
a. Are always radioactive
b. Differ in their number of protons
c. Differ in their number of neutrons
d. Differ in their number of electrons
Isotopes of an element
a. Are always radioactive
b. Differ in their number of protons
c. Differ in their number of neutrons
d. Differ in their number of electrons
Element Q has three common isotopes. If the
abundance of 44X is 0.03, the abundance of 45X is
0.25%, and the abundance of 48X is 99.72%, what is
the average atomic mass of element Q?
a. 32.89
b. 43.63
c. 47.99
d. 48.76
Element Q has three common isotopes. If the
abundance of 44X is 0.03, the abundance of 45X is
0.25%, and the abundance of 48X is 99.72%, what is
the average atomic mass of element Q?
a. 32.89
b. 43.63
c. 47.99
d. 48.76
P.S. In this case you don’t even need a calculator to figure it out, since
only one of the provided responses is within the atomic mass range of
the three isotopes. Clearly the average can’t be LOWER or HIGHER
than that range, and therefore responses a., b., and d. CANNOT be
correct. Only c. fits within the range of atomic masses of the
isotopes.
What atom is depicted in this figure?
What atom is depicted in this figure?
Argon: this atom has 18
protons, meaning an
atomic number of 18.
referring to the
Periodic Table, we can
see that the element
with an atomic number of 18 is Argon.
Which one of the following is a correct representation
of an alpha particle?
a. 42He
b. 0-1e
c. 10e
d. 00
Which one of the following is a correct representation
of an alpha particle?
a. 42He
b. 0-1e
c. 10e
d. 00
Following α decay, the total number of protons has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Following α decay, the total number of protons has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Following α decay, the atomic number has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Following α decay, the atomic number has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Following α decay, the atomic mass has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Following α decay, the atomic mass has
a. increased by 2
b. decreased by 4
c. decreased by 2
d. unchanged
Alpha decay produces a new atom whose __________ than
those of the original atom.
a. atomic number is 2 less and atomic mass is 4 less
b. atomic number is 2 less and atomic mass is 2 less
c. atomic number is 2 more and atomic mass is 4 more
d. atomic number is 2 more and atomic mass is 2 less
Alpha decay produces a new atom whose __________ than
those of the original atom.
a. atomic number is 2 less and atomic mass is 4 less
b. atomic number is 2 less and atomic mass is 2 less
c. atomic number is 2 more and atomic mass is 4 more
d. atomic number is 2 more and atomic mass is 2 less
Which one of the following is a correct representation
of a beta particle?
a. 42He
b. 0-1e
c. 10e
d. 00
Which one of the following is a correct representation
of a beta particle?
a. 42He
b. 0-1e
c. 10e
d. 00
Following beta decay, the total number of protons has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
Following beta decay, the total number of protons has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
Following beta decay, the atomic mass has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
Following beta decay, the atomic mass has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
Following beta decay, the atomic number has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
Following beta decay, the atomic number has
a. not changed
b. decreased by 1
c. increased by 1
d. increased by 2
What happens to the atomic mass and atomic number
of an atom when it undergoes beta (β) decay?
a. The mass number increases by 2 and the atomic
number increases by 1.
b. The mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic
number decreases by 2.
c. The mass number does not change and the atomic
number increases by 1.
d. Neither the mass number nor the atomic number
change.
What happens to the atomic mass and atomic number
of an atom when it undergoes beta (β) decay?
a. The mass number increases by 2 and the atomic
number increases by 1.
b. The mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic
number decreases by 2.
c. The mass number does not change and the
atomic number increases by 1.
d. Neither the mass number nor the atomic number
change.
By what process does uranium-238 decay to thorium-234?
a. alpha decay
b. beta decay
c. gamma ray emission
d. electron capture
By what process does uranium-238 decay to thorium-234?
a. alpha decay
b. beta decay
c. gamma ray emission
d. electron capture
Uranium 238 must have undergone alpha decay to produce
thorium-234, since atomic mass has decreased by 4.
Furthermore, according to the Periodic Table, uranium has
an atomic number of 92, while thorium has an atomic
number of 90. Therefore, atomic number has decreased by
2. The complete nuclear decay equation is:
238 U
92
→ 23490Th + 42He
What is the missing product from this nuclear decay
reaction: 13755Cs → 13756Ba + _______________
a. 42He
b. 0+1e
c. 0-1e
d. 00
What is the missing product from this nuclear decay
reaction: 13755Cs → 13756Ba + _______________
a. 42He
b. 0+1e
c. 0-1e
d. 00
Cesium-137 has an atomic number of 55, while Barium-137
has an atomic number of 56. Therefore, during this decay
reaction, atomic number has gone up by one while atomic
mass is unchanged. Such changes are characteristic of beta
decay, thus the missing product is a beta particle. The
complete nuclear decay equation is:
137 Cs → 137 Ba + 0 e
55
56
-1
Thorium undergoes alpha decay. The product of this
reaction also undergoes alpha decay. What is
the final product of this second decay reaction
__________ ?
Thorium undergoes alpha decay. The product of this
reaction also undergoes alpha decay. What is
the final product of this second decay reaction
_radon_ ?
The problem tells you that two alpha decay events
occur. Since atomic number decreases by two for
each alpha decay event, the total decrease in
atomic number will be 4. The starting thorium
atom has an atomic number of 90. Subtracting 4
gives a final atomic number of 86. Referring to the
Periodic Table, we can see that the element radon
has an atomic number of 86.
What type of radioactive decay does not change the
atomic number or atomic mass of an element?
a. electron capture
b. gamma ray emission
c. alpha decay
d. beta decay
What type of radioactive decay does not change the
atomic number or atomic mass of an element?
a. electron capture
b. gamma ray emission
c. alpha decay
d. beta decay
Gamma rays have no charge and no mass, being a
wave rather than a particle, therefore the
emission of gamma rays during decay affects
neither atomic mass nor atomic number.
A 39Cl atom ejects a beta particle. What is the product of
this reaction?
a. 39Ar
b. 39Cl
c. 39S
d. 38Ar
A 39Cl atom ejects a beta particle. What is the product of
this reaction?
a. 39Ar
b. 39Cl
c. 39S
d. 38Ar
Referring to the Periodic Table we can see that the atomic number of Cl is
17. We know that beta decay causes atomic number to increase by 1,
therefore the final atomic mass is 18. Referring to the Periodic Table we
see that argon (Ar) has an atomic mass of 18. We also know that beta
emission causes no change in the atomic mass, therefore the specific
isotope generated is argon-39 . The overall nuclear decay equestion is:
39
o e + 39 Ar
Cl

17
-1
18
According to this graph, what is that half-life of
radioactive material X?
a. 5,000 years
b. 10,000 years
c. 15,000 years
d. 20,000 years
Time (X 1000 years)
According to this graph, what is that half-life of
radioactive material X?
a. 5,000 years
b. 10,000 years
c. 15,000 years
d. 20,000 years
The graph shows that
50 % of material
is left after 5 X 1000
Time (X 1000 years)
years, which is
equal to 5000 years.