Nuclear Chemistry Review

Front

What produces more energy: nuclear fission or a chemical reaction?

Back

Nuclear fission produces more energy than a chemical reaction.

Front

If 10 mg of iodine-131 is given to a patient, how much is left after 24 days if the half-life is 8 days?

Back

1.25 mg of iodine-131 is left after 24 days.

Front

What is the symbol for an alpha particle?

Back

The symbol for an alpha particle is \( \text{ } ^4_2\text{He} \text{ } \).

Front

In the symbol \( \text{ } ^{206}_{82}\text{Pb} \text{ } \), what does 206 stand for?

Back

206 stands for the mass number.

Front

Balance the equation: \( \text{ } ^{14}_{6}\text{C} \rightarrow \text{ } ^{0}_{-1}\text{e} + ? \text{ } \)

Back

The balanced equation is \( \text{ } ^{14}_{7}\text{N} \text{ } \).

Front

What is nuclear fission?

Back

Nuclear fission is the process of splitting a heavy nucleus into smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

Front

What is the half-life of a radioactive substance?

Back

The half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Back

Nuclear fission splits heavy nuclei, while nuclear fusion combines light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

Front

What is the mass number of an atom?

Back

The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

An isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.