Nuclear Chemistry

Which of the following makes some isotopes of an element more stable than isotopes?

• The number of protons

• The number of neutrons

• The number of electrons

When the nucleus of an isotope is unstable, what will it do?

• emit subatomic particles

• gain electrons

• absorb protons

• become bigger

When an isotope undergoes alpha decay, how many protons and neutrons does it emit?

• 2 protons, 2 neutrons

• 4 protons, 2 nuetrons

• 2 protons, 4 neutrons

• 4 protons, 4 neutrons

Why can the symbol of an alpha particle also be He?

• It has 2 protons

• It has 2 neutrons

• It has a mass number of 4

When an atom undergoes beta decay, what happens to the atomic number?

• It increases by 1

• It decreases by 1

• It does not change

When an atom undergoes beta decay, what happens to the mass number?

• It increases by 1

• It decreases by 1

• It does not change

When an isotope undergoes gamma decay, what happens?

• the isotope just emits energy

• the isotope emits energy and a particle

• the isotope just emits a particle

If the identity of an isotope stays the same after undergoing nuclear decay, what type of radiation did it undergo?

• alpha

• beta

• gamma

What type of radiation can be stopped by just a thin piece of paper?

• alpha

• beta

• gamma

Which decay results in the biggest change in mass of a radioactive isotope?

• alpha

• beta

• gamma