Nuclear Chemistry
Practice Test
1.
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
SC.A.2.4.3
a.
0.6594 years
b.
24.64 years
c.
30.80 years
d.
5.333 years
2.
Radiation that is energetic enough to ionize matter is called ionizing radiation. Which of the following devices could be used to detect ionizing radiation?
SC.H.3.4.6
a.
Geiger counter
b.
scintillation counter
c.
all of the above
d.
film badge
3.
Unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation to __________.
SC.A.2.4.3
a.
gain neutrons
b.
attain more stable atomic configurations
c.
gain electrons
d.
lose protons
4.
What is the charge of a beta particle?
SC.A.2.4.6
a.
2
+
b.
0
c.
1
–
d.
1
+
5.
A wavelength of 500 nm is associated with the _______ portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
a.
visible
b.
microwave
c.
infrared
d.
ultraviolet
6.
Which of the following would be the best choice for use in detecting diseased tissue as part of medical diagnostics?
SC.H.3.4.2
a.
gamma ray
b.
X-ray
c.
ionizing radiation
d.
radiotracer
7.
Which of the results of Rutherford's gold foil experiments was not consistent with the plum pudding atomic model?
SC.C.2.4.2
a.
Some alpha particles were deflected straight back toward the particle source.
b.
The paths of alpha particles were only slightly altered by collisions with electrons.
c.
Most of the alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil.
d.
The zinc sulfide coated screen produced a flash of light whenever it was struck by an alpha particle.
8.
The elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 are _______________.
a.
transuranium elements
b.
actinides
c.
lanthanides
d.
halogens
9.
Which of the following power sources makes use of the photoelectric effect?
SC.B.1.4.5
a.
solar power cells
b.
nuclear power plants
c.
diesel engines
d.
alkaline batteries
10.
The ground state of hydrogen corresponds to the _________.
a.
second energy level
b.
zeroeth energy level
c.
highest energy level
d.
first energy level
11.
How many protons are present in an atom potassium-39?
SC.A.2.4.1
a.
20
b.
58
c.
39
d.
19
12.
A series of nuclear reactions that begins with an unstable nucleus and results in the formation of a stable nucleus is _______________.
SC.A.2.4.3
a.
an isotope series
b.
the Balmer series
c.
a band of stability
d.
a radioactive decay series
13.
What is the charge of an alpha particle?
SC.A.2.4.6
a.
2
+
b.
0
c.
1
+
d.
1
–
14.
The reaction products of nuclear fusion are __________ than the reactants.
SC.A.2.4.4
a.
less radioactive
b.
less massive
c.
cooler
d.
more massive
15.
What happens to the mass of an atom when it undergoes alpha decay?
SC.A.2.4.3
a.
The mass increases by 4.
b.
The mass decreases by 1.
c.
The mass decreases by 4.
d.
There is no change in mass.
16.
What are isotopes of atoms with unstable nuclei called?
SC.A.2.4.3
a.
radioactivity
b.
radiation
c.
radioisotopes
d.
radioactive decay
17.
In the periodic table, the principal quantum number corresponds to the ________.
SC.A.2.4.5
a.
period number
b.
transition metals
c.
lanthanides
d.
group number
18.
The energy produced by the Sun is a result of ___________.
SC.C.2.4.4
a.
nuclear fusion
b.
nuclear fission
c.
radiocarbon dating
d.
alpha emission
19.
The atomic number of an element is defined by its number of ________.
a.
nuclei
b.
electrons
c.
neutrons
d.
protons
20.
Which scientist determined that almost all of an atom’s mass of is located in its nucleus?
a.
Thomson
b.
Rutherford
c.
a. Dalton
d.
Democritus
