Nuclear Chemistry
Practice Test
1.
Two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus in this process.
a.
nuclear fission
b.
nuclear fusion
c.
nuclear splitting
d.
covalent bonding
2.
Pu-239 is used to fuel a type of nuclear fission reactor called a ________________.
a.
breeder reactor
b.
linear accelerator
c.
fusion reactor
d.
synchrotron
3.
These devices produce most artificial elements.
a.
fission reactors
b.
fusion reactors
c.
particle accelerators
d.
centrifuges
4.
The splitting of an atomic nucleus into two or more large fragments is called ________________.
a.
beta decay
b.
alpha decay
c.
nuclear fusion
d.
nuclear fission
5.
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.
8
b.
4
c.
16
d.
2
6.
Exposure to ________________ can extend the shelf life of food.
a.
gamma radiation
b.
bacteria
c.
heat
d.
alpha particles
7.
This radioactive isotope is commonly used to determine the age of once-living organisms.
a.
oxygen-16
b.
carbon-14
c.
nitrogen-14
d.
sodium-23
8.
This portable device detects radioactivity and contains a battery and a gas-filled cylinder.
a.
film badge
b.
scintillation counter
c.
Geiger counter
d.
cyclotron
9.
Which of the following would be the best choice for use in detecting diseased tissue as part of medical diagnostics?
a.
ionizing radiation
b.
gamma ray
c.
X-ray
d.
radiotracer
10.
This radioisotope is commonly used to diagnose and treat thyroid conditions.
a.
Na-24
b.
C-14
c.
Mo-99
d.
I-131
11.
These particles sustain a nuclear fission chain reaction.
a.
beta particles
b.
alpha particles
c.
neutrons
d.
protons
12.
The half-life of technetium-99 is 6.0 hours. How much of a 1.000-gram sample remains after 18.0 hours?
a.
8.000 g
b.
0.125 g
c.
0.500 g
d.
0.250 g
13.
Which of the following types of radiation will pass directly through an electric field without being deflected?
a.
beta particle
b.
gamma ray
c.
delta ray
d.
alpha particle
14.
This element accounts for most of the radiation to which people are exposed.
a.
radon
b.
hydrogen
c.
carbon
d.
phosphorus
15.
In an ionizing smoke detector, smoke particles interfere with the flow of ions created by _____________ from americium-241.
a.
gamma rays
b.
electrons
c.
atoms
d.
alpha particles
16.
If a thorium-230 atom undergoes alpha decay, what are the products of the reaction?
a.
radium and an alpha particle
b.
actinium and a positron
c.
radium and a positron
d.
actinium and an alpha particle
17.
After a/an ________________ substance is exposed to light, it continues to give off the light it has absorbed.
a.
fluorescent
b.
phosphorescent
c.
radioactive
d.
organic
18.
The products of the fusion reaction involving deuterium and tritium are a neutron and this particle.
a.
a protium nucleus
b.
a beta particle
c.
an alpha particle
d.
a U-235 nucleus
19.
Gamma radiation produced by cobalt-60 is often used to ________________.
a.
conduct PET scans
b.
diagnose cancer
c.
produce other radioisotopes
d.
destroy cancerous cells
20.
_________ absorb some neutrons in a fission reactor to maintain the rate of reaction.
a.
turbines
b.
Control rods
c.
Cooling towers
d.
Graphite blocks
21.
In Einstein's famous equation E = mc
2
, which relates energy and mass, c represents the ___________________.
a.
speed of sound
b.
speed of light
c.
specific heat
d.
caloric content
22.
Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation by a/an ________________.
a.
covalent bond
b.
hydrogen bond
c.
unstable atomic nucleus
d.
stable electron
23.
____________ containing radioactive P-32 have been used to help clarify complex metabolic pathways.
a.
Tracers
b.
Protons
c.
Fusion reactors
d.
U-235 atoms
24.
_____________ produces a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation.
a.
Gamma decay
b.
Delta decay
c.
Beta decay
d.
Alpha decay
25.
Unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation to __________.
a.
lose protons
b.
gain electrons
c.
gain neutrons
d.
attain more stable atomic configurations
26.
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?
a.
5.333 years
b.
0.6594 years
c.
24.64 years
d.
30.80 years
27.
Given that the half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years, how old is a fossilized organism that contains 25.0% of the carbon-14 it did when it was alive?
a.
5730 y
b.
17 190 y
c.
11 460 y
d.
22 920 y
