Why Does Everything Decay Into Lead

What happens to elements that are beyond lead on the periodic table?

• They become stable immediately.

• They are radioactive and eventually decay into lead.

• They can be easily turned into gold by alchemists.

• They are used to sweeten wine.

What determines which element an atom is?

• The total number of nucleons.

• The number of neutrons.

• The number of protons.

• The number of electrons.

What happens to an atom's nucleus during alpha decay?

• It gains two protons and two neutrons.

• It emits two protons and two neutrons.

• It converts a neutron into a proton.

• It emits an electron.

Which of the following decay series does NOT typically end with lead as its final stable product?

• Thorium series

• Actinium series

• Radium series

• Neptunium series

What did Maria Goeppert Mayer discover about isotopes?

• Isotopes with specific numbers of protons or neutrons are more likely to be stable.

• All isotopes are equally stable.

• Isotopes with an odd number of protons are always unstable.

• Isotopes with a large number of electrons are more stable.

What are "Magic Numbers" in nuclear physics?

• Numbers that predict the reactivity of elements.

• Numbers that represent the total mass of an atom.

• Specific numbers of protons or neutrons that make an atomic nucleus very stable.

• Numbers used to calculate the speed of electrons.

Which of the following is an example of a "doubly magic" isotope?

• Carbon-12

• Helium-4

• Oxygen-16

• Uranium-238

What is currently known as the heaviest stable isotope?

• Uranium-235

• Tin-120

• Lead-208

• Flerovium-298