Name:________________________________________ Date:__________________________ Period:____
Nuclear Chemistry Study Guide
1.
Complete
Symbol
Atomic
#
Mass
#
Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
84
20
15
20
32
52
12
For 2-4, use the following answer choices:
A. MASS NUMBER
B. FISSION
C. ATOMIC NUMBER
D. FUSION
2. The ___________________ is the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
3. Nuclear ____________ occurs in the sun.
4. Many countries use nuclear ______________ as an energy source.
For 5-7, use the following answer choices:
A. PROTONS
B. NEUTRONS
C. ELECTRONS
5. The number of ______________ in the nucleus determines the identity of the element.
6. Isotopes exist because of the different number of _________________ within the same element.
7. The difference in the number of protons and _____________ determines the charge of an atom.
For 8-11, fill in the blanks using the correct particle:
A. ALPHA
B. BETA
C. GAMMA
8. ___________has a mass of 4
9. ________________ are the same as a helium nucleus.
10. ____________has the highest energy.
11. ______________ has the lowest ability to penetrate.
12. Balance the following equation and determine the unknown:
226
222
88Ra 
86Rn + ____
4
a. 2He
c. 11H
b. 10n
d. 0–1e
13. Which type of radiation has no mass and no charge?
a. 0-1β
b. alpha particles
c. 42He
d. gamma rays
14. The half-life of an isotope is the time required for half the nuclei in a sample to
a. undergo radioactive decay.
c. undergo nuclear fusion.
b. undergo nuclear fission.
d. react chemically.
15. An isotope has a half-life of 25 days. If you start with 50 grams, how much of the substance will remain
after 75 days?
a. 25 grams
c. 50 grams
b. 12.5 grams
d. 6.25 grams
16. Which type of reaction produces the most energy?
a. fission
c. chemical reaction of natural gas burning
b. coal burning
d. fusion
17. Beta particles have a _____ charge.
a. -1
b. 0
c. +1
d. +2
18. What is the product of decay from a radioactive isotope of lead?
a. Thallium
c. Bismuth
b. Mercury
d. Lead
19. How long does it take a 100.00g sample of As-81 to decay to 6.25g? The half-life of As-81 is 33 seconds.
20. Cobalt-60 is a radioactive element used as a source of radiation in the treatment of cancer. Cobalt-60 has a
half-life of five years. If a hospital starts with a 1000-mg supply, how much will remain after 10 years?
a. 750 mg
b. 500 mg
c. 250 mg
d.1000 mg
Identify the following as alpha or beta decay:
21.
22.
_________________________
____________________________
Fill in the missing blanks on these reactions:
23.
24.
25. Complete the following table:
Half-life
0
1
2
3
4
Years
0
5
Mass of Sample
200
26. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years. If a 10 gram sample undergoes decay for 17,190 years, how many
grams remain?
27. The half-life of lead-210 is 22 years. How many years does it take for a 1600 gram sample of lead-210 to be
reduced to 100 g?
Write a balanced equation for each of the following nuclear reactions:
28. Curium-240 (Cm) decays by alpha emission.
29. Americium-243 (Am) decays by alpha emission.
30. Krypton-87 (Kr) decays by beta emission.
31. Magnesium-27 (Mg) decays by beta emission.
32.
Type of Radiation
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Symbol
Charge
Mass