Nuclear Chemistry
Practice Test
1.
What particle emitted during radioactive decay has a mass of 4 amu?
a.
beta particle
b.
delta particle
c.
gamma particle
d.
alpha particle
2.
What are isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei called?
a.
radioactivity
b.
radioisotopes
c.
radiation
d.
radioactive decay
3.
The conversion of an atom of one element into an atom of a different element is _______________.
a.
isotopic abundance
b.
transuranium element
c.
radioactivity
d.
transmutation
4.
Unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation to __________.
a.
attain more stable atomic configurations
b.
gain electrons
c.
gain neutrons
d.
lose protons
5.
The time required for one-half of a radioactive isotope to decay into its products is _______________.
a.
isomerization
b.
transmutation
c.
half-time
d.
half-life
6.
The half-life for tritium is 12.32 years. How long will it take for a 10.00-g sample of tritium to decay until 1.875 g remain?
Data Table 1
Parent and daughter nuclei data
Number of half-lives
Parent fraction
Daughter fraction
Daughter-to-parent ratio
0
1
1
1/2
2
1/4
3
1/8
4
1/16
a.
5.333 years
b.
30.80 years
c.
24.64 years
d.
0.6594 years
7.
A series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in the formation of a stable nucleus is _______________.
a.
a band of stability
b.
an isotope series
c.
a radioactive decay series
d.
the Balmer series
8.
The elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 are _______________.
a.
lanthanides
b.
actinides
c.
transuranium elements
d.
halogens
9.
What is the name of the process in which a large radioactive isotope is broken into smaller isotopes?
a.
nuclear fission
b.
nuclear fusion
c.
beta emission
d.
transmutation
10.
If one fission reaction of a uranium-235 atom produced two neutrons, how many neutrons would be released if the chain reaction occurred three more times?
a.
2
b.
16
c.
8
d.
4
11.
What conditions in the nucleus usually result in beta decay?
a.
The atomic mass is greater than 300 amu.
b.
The nucleus has too many neutrons.
c.
The valence electrons are lost.
d.
The nucleus has too many protons.
12.
Radiation that is energetic enough to ionize matter is called ionizing radiation. Which of the following devices could be used to detect ionizing radiation?
a.
all of the above
b.
scintillation counter
c.
film badge
d.
Geiger counter
13.
What is the major problem associated with the development of fusion as a controlled energy source?
a.
The resulting air pollution.
b.
The containment of the extremely high-temperature plasma.
c.
The containment of the radioactive decay products.
d.
The low energy yield of the fuel.
14.
Which particle emitted during radioactive decay is indistinguishable from an electron?
a.
alpha particle
b.
gamma particle
c.
delta particle
d.
beta particle
15.
The type of radiation that has the greatest penetrating ability is ___________.
a.
delta radiation
b.
beta radiation
c.
alpha radiation
d.
gamma radiation
16.
What happens during positron emission?
a.
A proton is converted into a neutron and a positron.
b.
A neutron is converted into a proton and a positron.
c.
An atomic explosion occurs.
d.
A proton is converted into a neutron and an electron.
17.
What ratio is used to evaluate the stability of a nucleus?
a.
the atomic number to mass number ratio
b.
the neutron to proton ratio
c.
the electron to proton ratio
d.
the electron to neutron ratio
18.
Carbon-14 is used to date archaeological artifacts. If carbon-14 decays by loss of a beta particle, what new element is formed?
a.
nitrogen-14
b.
nitrogen-13
c.
carbon-13
d.
boron-14
19.
In a nuclear reactor, what is the heat generated by the nuclear fission reaction used for?
a.
freezing water
b.
making building products
c.
fusing other unstable isotopes together
d.
generating steam
20.
What is the name given to the amount of a radioactive substance that is massive enough to sustain a chain reaction?
a.
mass defect
b.
mole
c.
critical condition
d.
critical mass
21.
What happens to the mass of an atom when it undergoes alpha decay?
a.
The mass increases by 4.
b.
The mass decreases by 4.
c.
There is no change in mass.
d.
The mass decreases by 1.
22.
Which of the following would be the best choice for use in detecting diseased tissue as part of medical diagnostics?
a.
gamma ray
b.
radiotracer
c.
X-ray
d.
ionizing radiation
