Chapter 25:
Nuclear Chemistry
Practice Test
1.
Carbon-14 is used to date archaeological artifacts. If carbon-14 decays by loss of a beta particle, what new element is formed?
a.
boron-14
b.
nitrogen-14
c.
nitrogen-13
d.
carbon-13
Hint
2.
What particle emitted during radioactive decay has a mass of 4 amu?
a.
delta particle
b.
gamma particle
c.
beta particle
d.
alpha particle
Hint
3.
The elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 are _______________.
a.
lanthanides
b.
actinides
c.
transuranium elements
d.
halogens
Hint
4.
The conversion of an atom of one element into an atom of a different element is _______________.
a.
radioactivity
b.
transmutation
c.
isotopic abundance
d.
transuranium element
Hint
5.
To hold the nucleons together in the nucleus, energy is required. What is the name of this energy?
a.
free energy
b.
kinetic energy
c.
thermal energy
d.
binding energy
Hint
6.
What is the major problem associated with the development of fusion as a controlled energy source?
a.
The low energy yield of the fuel.
b.
The resulting air pollution.
c.
The containment of the extremely high-temperature plasma.
d.
The containment of the radioactive decay products.
Hint
7.
What ratio is used to evaluate the stability of a nucleus?
a.
the neutron to proton ratio
b.
the electron to neutron ratio
c.
the electron to proton ratio
d.
the atomic number to mass number ratio
Hint
8.
What is the name given to the amount of a radioactive substance that is massive enough to sustain a chain reaction?
a.
mole
b.
critical condition
c.
mass defect
d.
critical mass
Hint
9.
What conditions in the nucleus usually result in beta decay?
a.
The nucleus has too many neutrons.
b.
The valence electrons are lost.
c.
The nucleus has too many protons.
d.
The atomic mass is greater than 300 amu.
Hint
10.
What are isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei called?
a.
radioactivity
b.
radiation
c.
radioactive decay
d.
radioisotopes
Hint
11.
The atomic number of an atom ________ when it undergoes positron emission.
a.
increases by 1
b.
increases by 2
c.
decreases by 1
d.
decreases by 2
Hint
12.
The reaction products of nuclear fusion are __________ than the reactants.
a.
more massive
b.
less radioactive
c.
less massive
d.
cooler
Hint
13.
A series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in the formation of a stable nucleus is _______________.
a.
the Balmer series
b.
an isotope series
c.
a radioactive decay series
d.
a band of stability
Hint
14.
What happens to the mass of an atom when it undergoes alpha decay?
a.
There is no change in mass.
b.
The mass increases by 4.
c.
The mass decreases by 4.
d.
The mass decreases by 1.
Hint
15.
The time required for one-half of a radioactive isotope to decay into its products is _______________.
a.
isomerization
b.
half-time
c.
half-life
d.
transmutation
Hint
16.
If an isotope has a half-life of 30 years, how much of an original sample remains after 120 years?
a.
1/64
b.
1/32
c.
1/16
d.
1/8
Hint
17.
In a nuclear reactor, what is the heat generated by the nuclear fission reaction used for?
a.
generating steam
b.
freezing water
c.
making building products
d.
fusing other unstable isotopes together
Hint
18.
Which particle emitted during radioactive decay is indistinguishable from an electron?
a.
alpha particle
b.
beta particle
c.
gamma particle
d.
delta particle
Hint
19.
What is the name of the process in which a large radioactive isotope is broken into smaller isotopes?
a.
beta emission
b.
nuclear fusion
c.
transmutation
d.
nuclear fission
Hint
20.
The type of radiation that has the greatest penetrating ability is ___________.
a.
delta radiation
b.
beta radiation
c.
gamma radiation
d.
alpha radiation
Hint
