Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Nuclear Reactions Review

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 33mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is an alpha decay particle?

a)

electron

b)

helium nucleus

c)

positron

d)

gamma ray

2.

What type of radioactive decay is this example?

a)

alpha

b)

beta minus

c)

beta plus

d)

gamma

3.

What change happens in the nucleus for this radioactive decay example?

a)

loses 2 protons + 2 neutrons

b)

neutron becomes a proton

c)

proton becomes a neutron

d)

no change to nucleus

4.

Which type of radioactive decay has the highest penetrating ability?

a)

alpha

b)

beta

c)

gamma

d)

it is the same for all of them

5.

Using your periodic table, what is the element formed when Astatine undergoes alpha decay

a)

Po-206

b)

Rn-206

c)

At-206

d)

Bi-206

6.

What two subatomic particles are found in an atom's nucleus?

a)

Protons and neutrons

b)

neutrons and electrons

c)

electrons and protons

7.

What does the graph show is needed to keep the nucleus stable?

a)

As protons increases, more neutrons are needed.

b)

As protons increases, less neutrons are needed.

c)

As neutrons increase, less protons are needed.

8.

What is likely to happen to unstable nuclei with too many, or too few, neutrons?

a)

They will decay by emitting radiation.

b)

They will loose all their electrons.

c)

They will bond with other atoms.

9.

What could an unstable nucleus emit?

a)

Alpha, gamma, beta, and sometimes a neutron.

b)

Alpha, beta, gamma, and sometimes delta

c)

Alpha, beta, delta, and sometimes gamma

10.

If the nucleus has too few neutrons, it will emit two protons and two neutrons called ___________.

a)

an alpha particle

b)

a beta particle

c)

a neutron

d)

gamma radiation

11.

Alpha decay causes the mass number of the nucleus to decrease by ________ and the atomic number of the nucleus to decrease by _______.

a)

four, two

b)

two, four

c)

one, two

d)

two, three

12.

Which symbol(s) represent an alpha particle?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

13.

Which symbol(s) represent an beta particle?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

14.

Which symbol(s) represent gamma radiation?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

15.

If the nucleus has too many neutrons, a neutron will turn into a proton and emit a fast-moving electron. This process is known as ___________.

a)

alpha radiation

b)

beta radiation

c)

gamma radiation

d)

neutron radiation

16.

Beta radiation is ____________________

a)

an electron from an electron shell.

b)

an electron from the nucleus.

c)

two protons and two neutrons.

d)

a high frequency electromagnetic wave.

17.

What will happen if the nucleus has too many neutrons?

a)

A neutron will turn into a proton and emit a fast-moving electron.

b)

A proton will turn into a neutron and emit a fast-moving electron.

c)

A neutron will break into two and emit a fast-moving alpha particle.

18.

What observation suggests the atom is mostly empty space?

a)

Most alpha particle travel straight through.

b)

Some alpha particles are deflected at small angles.

c)

Occasionally an alpha particle come straight back.

19.

After emitting an alpha or beta particle, how may a nucleus lose excess energy?

a)

Releasing a neutron

b)

Releasing gamma radiation

c)

Emitting Infra-red radiation

20.

Which form of radioactive decay is the most ionising?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

21.

Occasionally a neutron can be emitted by radioactive decay. Which process will not result in neutron emission?

a)

Absorbing cosmic rays in the atmosphere.

b)

Firing alpha particles at Beryllium.

c)

Nuclear fission reactions.

d)

Nuclear fusion reactions.

22.

What type of radiation is the most penetrating?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

23.

What subatomic particle determines the name of the element?

a)

Electron

b)

Proton

c)

Neutron

d)

Boson

24.

What observation suggests the nucleus of the atom is positively charged?

a)

Most alpha particle travel straight through.

b)

Some alpha particles are deflected at small angles.

c)

Occasionally an alpha particle come straight back.

25.

What observation suggests the nucleus carries almost all of the atom's mass?

a)

Most alpha particle travel straight through.

b)

Some alpha particles are deflected at small angles.

c)

Occasionally an alpha particle come straight back.

26.

What is likely to happen to unstable nuclei with too many, or too few, neutrons?

a)

They will decay by emitting radiation.

b)

They will loose all their electrons.

c)

They will bond with other atoms.

27.

Alpha decay causes the mass number of the nucleus to decrease by ________ and the atomic number of the nucleus to decrease by _______.

a)

four, two

b)

two, four

c)

one, two

d)

two, three

28.

Which symbol(s) represent an alpha particle?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

29.

Which symbol(s) represent an beta particle?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

30.

Which symbol(s) represent gamma radiation?

a)

yellow

b)

blue

c)

red

31.

If the nucleus has too many neutrons, a neutron will turn into a proton and emit a fast-moving electron. This process is known as ___________.

a)

alpha radiation

b)

beta radiation

c)

gamma radiation

d)

neutron radiation

32.

What type of radiation is the most penetrating?

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

33.

What subatomic particle determines the name of the element?

a)

Electron

b)

Proton

c)

Neutron

d)

Boson

34.

During this type of radioactive decay, two protons and two neutrons are ejected, lowering the atomic number of the atom by two.

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta decay

c)

gamma decay

35.

Plutonium (atomic number 94) becomes Uranium (atomic number 92). What type of radioactive decay takes place?

a)

alpha decay

b)

beta decay

c)

gamma decay

36.

Because of its ability to penetrate materials, which of the following is the most dangerous radiation?

a)

gamma

b)

alpha

c)

beta

d)

medical X-rays

37.

22087Fr —› ____ + 42He

a)

22089Ac

b)

22490Th

c)

21685At

d)

21688Ra

38.

22286Rn —› ____ + 42He

a)

22589Ac

b)

21187Fr

c)

21885At

d)

21884Po

39.

13755Cs —› ____ + 0-1e

a)

17872Hf

b)

13753I

c)

14154Xe

d)

13756Ba

40.

3215P—› ____ + 0-1e

a)

3216S

b)

3214Si

c)

1632S

d)

3417Cl

41.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta 
c)
Gamma
42.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
43.
Has the symbol
a)
Alpha
b)
Beta
c)
Gamma
44.
Complete the nuclear equation and determine the type of decay that is occurring in this reaction. 
a)
alpha
b)
beta
c)
gamma
d)
none
45.
How many protons are in this atom?
a)
3
b)
4
c)
6
d)
10
46.

This type of decay can be stopped with concrete and lead

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

47.

This type of decay can be stopped with paper or human body

a)

Alpha

b)

Beta

c)

Gamma

48.
What particle completes this reaction?
a)
alpha particle
b)
beta particle
c)
gamma particle
d)
neutron
49.
What is the missing isotope that will balance the following nuclear equation?
94Be  +  11H →  _____  +  42He
a)
105B
b)
105Ne
c)
63Li
d)
63C
50.

This is the correct equation for U-238 decay.

a)

true

b)

false