Y11 Unit 1 Isotopes

Y11 Chemistry:
Isotopes

Watch the video provided, then answer the following questions correctly.


-Ms Anggun

​Protium is the regular version of hydrogen and is represented by the letter H.

​​Protium

​Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, which, unlike “normal” hydrogen atoms, or protium, also contains a neutron.

​​Deuterium

Tritium is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays strike nitrogen molecules in the air. Tritium is also produced during nuclear weapons explosions, and as a byproduct in nuclear reactors.

​​Tritium

Multiple Select

Choose the properties which are the same for all of the isotopes of an atom.

• atomic mass

• atomic number

• proton number

• neutron number

Multiple Choice

According to the video, what makes too much deuterium water harmful for humans?

• deuterium cannot be absorbed by the body.

• lighter deuterium makes important chemical processes in the body occur too fast.

• heavier deuterium reacts differently in the body

• heavier deuterium slows down important chemical process in the body

Multiple Choice

The isotopes of iron are given. Calculate the average isotopic mass using this data.

• 55.9

• 5590

• 55.6

• 55.8

Multiple Choice

Isotopes of an atom will react the same because they have the same number of proton.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Isotopes of an atom will react the same because they have the same number of electron.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

​-"the second worst nuclear accident after Chernobyl"-

It was reported that tsunami waves generated by the main shock of the Japan earthquake on March 11, 2011, damaged the backup generators at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Rising residual heat within each reactor’s core caused the fuel rods in reactors 1, 2, and 3 to overheat and partially melt down, leading at times to the release of radiation.

Since the disaster, power plant company Tepco has been pumping in water to cool down the Fukushima nuclear reactors' fuel rods. This means every day the plant produces contaminated water, which is stored in massive tanks.

In 2023, Japan began to release the diluted contaminated water back to the ocean which caused protests from the world.

Open Ended

Write down your thoughts on the Japan's decision to release the diluted contaminated water back to the ocean. Relate how the radioactive tritium can harm living things from Video 1.

• Do you support the decision? Why?

• What are the scientific reason behind your answer above?

• Do you think people's concerns are valid? Why so?