Quiz 1: Radioactive Elements

Master radioactive elements! Quiz on decay, half-life, fission, fusion & more.

1. Beta particles are identical to protons. helium atoms. hydrogen atoms. helium nuclei. electrons. 2. A radioisotope decays to give an alpha particle and Pb-208. What was the original element? Se Bi Po Hg Rn 3. As a result of beta decay, the product nucleus is one atomic number lower than the original element. two atomic numbers higher than the original element. one atomic number higher than the original element. two atomic numbers lower than the original element. four atomic numbers lower than the original element. 4. When atoms of beryllium-9 are bombarded with alpha particles, neutrons are produced. What new isotope is also formed?42He + 94Be ---> 10n + _ 126C 53Li 83Li 105B 125B 5. Radium-226 decays by alpha emission. What is its decay product ? 22887Fr 22286Rn 23090Th 22689Ac 22484Po 6. The only stable isotope of iodine is iodine-127. Predict the mode of decay of 13053I. alpha emission beta emission positron emission electron capture 7. Carbon-11 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. Its half-life is 20.3 minutes. What fraction of the initial number of carbon-11 atoms in a sample will remain after 81 minutes? 1 1 1 1 1 8. Cobalt-60 is a beta emitter with a half-life of 5.3 years. Approximately what fraction of cobalt-60 atoms will remain in a particular sample after 26.5 years? 1 1 1 1 1 9. Which is the most penetrating of the three types of nuclear radiation? alpha beta gamma 10. Which isotope, when bombarded with O-18, yields the artificial isotope Sg-263 plus 4 neutrons? (Atomic number of O = 8, Sg = 106, No = 102, Ra = 88, Cf = 98) No-245 Ra-259 Cf-245 No-249 Cf-249 11. The material in a nuclear reactor that reduces the number of neutrons is called a _. reducer moderator control rod reflector 12. Which of the following is an advantage of nuclear power plants over coal-burning plants? Nuclear power plants form numerous radioactive fission products. do not pollute the air with SO2, soot, and fly-ash. produce more thermal pollution than coal plants. use more fuel. 13. Which type of nuclear process requires an extremely high temperature (millions of degrees)? beta decay fission reaction. fusion reaction positron emission alpha decay 14. The energy released by the sun is the result of natural radioactivity nuclear fusion combustion of hydrogen photosynthesis nuclear fission 15. The half-life of 14C is 5,730 yr. Assuming some charcoal from a campfire 29,000 years old was found, what fraction of the original C-14 would remain today? 0.03 0.197 3.51 33.3 16. Of the following nuclei, only _ is radioactive. 6027Co 4020Ca 2010Ne 2311Na 17.232Th loses six alpha and four be particles. The final isotope produced is _.(Atomic number of Th = 90, Pb = 82, Bi = 83, Po = 84) Pb-208 Bi-208 Pb-206 Po-208 18. Heavier nuclei are broken down into smaller nuclei by nuclear _. fusion transmutation fission oxidation 19. The age of wood can be determined by using _ decay. 14N 14C 18O 12C 20. Thyroid gland activity is studied by using _. 127I 131I 24Na 14C