Conservation of Nucleon Number

What quantities are conserved in both nuclear reactions and nuclear decay?

• Mass and Energy

• Nucleon Number and Charge

• Atomic Number and Mass Number

• Protons and Electrons

In the AZX notation for an atomic nucleus, what does 'A' represent?

• The atomic number (number of protons)

• The number of neutrons

• The mass number (total number of protons and neutrons)

• The chemical symbol of the element

What is the primary difference between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction?

• Chemical reactions involve changes in the nucleus, while nuclear reactions involve changes in electrons.

• Chemical reactions involve interactions of electrons, while nuclear reactions involve changes within the nucleus.

• Chemical reactions conserve mass, while nuclear reactions convert mass into energy.

• Chemical reactions produce new elements, while nuclear reactions only rearrange atoms.

In the nuclear fission reaction of Uranium-235 initiated by a neutron, what is the total nucleon number before the reaction?

• 235

• 236

• 233

• 238

What are the primary products of the nuclear fusion reaction between deuterium and tritium?

• Helium-3 and a proton

• Helium-4 and a neutron

• Two Helium-3 atoms

• Helium-4 and an electron

Which type of radioactive emission requires the thickest shielding, such as a long section of lead, to be effectively stopped?

• Alpha particles

• Beta particles

• Gamma rays

• Neutrons

When an atom undergoes alpha decay, how do its mass number and atomic number change?

• Mass number decreases by 2, atomic number decreases by 2.

• Mass number decreases by 4, atomic number decreases by 2.

• Mass number remains unchanged, atomic number decreases by 2.

• Mass number decreases by 4, atomic number remains unchanged.

In beta-minus decay, a neutron within the nucleus transforms into which of the following, leading to an increase in the atomic number of the atom?

• An alpha particle

• A proton and an electron

• Two protons

• A gamma ray