WorksheetsAtomic Structure (radioactivity)
Total questions: 160
Worksheet time: 2hrs 56mins
What is an atom?
The smallest part of an element
A substance made of two or more elements, chemically joined
A substance made of two or more elements, not chemically joined
The largest part of an element
What is the radius of an atom?
1 x 10-10 m
1 x 1010 m
1/1000 m
What is an isotope?
An atom of an element with a different number of neutrons
An atom of an element with a different number of protons
An atom of an element with a different number of electrons
What is an ion?
An atom of an element with a different number of neutrons
An atom of an element with a different number of protons
An atom of an element with a different number of electrons
What is radioactive decay?
An unstable nucleus breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable atom breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable element breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable compound breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
What is activity?
The rate that nuclei decay
The rate that ions decay
The rate that protons decay
The rate that electrons decay
What is the unit of activity?
Becquerels (Bq)
Coulombs (C)
Hertz (Hz)
Pascals (Pa)
What is count rate?
Number of decays per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of ions per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of atoms per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of neutrons per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
What is half life?
The time taken for half of the nuclei in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the atoms in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the ions in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the neutrons in a sample to decay
What is contamination?
Coming into contact with radioactive materials
Being exposed to radioactive materials
What is irradiation?
Coming into contact with radioactive materials
Being exposed to radioactive materials
What is ionisation?
The process of removing electrons from atoms
The process of removing protons from atoms
The process of removing neutrons from atoms
The process of removing nucei from atoms
Select the effects of ionisation on human cells
Cell death
Cancer
Mutation
What is mass number?
Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Total number of protons and electrons in the nucleus of an atom
Total number of neutrons and electrons in the nucleus of an atom
Total number of particles that make up an atom
What is atomic number?
The number of protons in an atom
The number of neutrons in an atom
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom
How do electrons orbit atoms?
In energy levels
In shells
In layers
In locations
What happens to an electron that absorbs electromagnetic radiation such as light?
The electron moves away from the nucleus, to a higher energy level
The electron moves closer to the nucleus, to a lower energy level
The electron's position does not change
The electron will be removed from the atom
What happens to an electron that emits electromagnetic radiation such as light?
The electron moves away from the nucleus, to a higher energy level
The electron moves closer to the nucleus, to a lower energy level
The electron's position does not change
The electron will be removed from the atom
Which model of the atom is JJ Thompson responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which model of the atom is John Dalton responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which model of the atom is Rutherford responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which model of the atom is Niels Bohr responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which statement describes the billiard ball model?
Atoms are tiny spheres that can't be split into anything smaller
Atoms are balls of positive charge with negative electrons embedded throughout
A central positive charge surrounded by negative charge
Which statement describes the plum pudding model?
Atoms are tiny spheres that can't be split into anything smaller
Atoms are balls of positive charge with negative electrons embedded throughout
A central positive charge surrounded by negative charge
Which statement describes the nuclear model?
Atoms are tiny spheres that can't be split into anything smaller
Atoms are balls of positive charge with negative electrons embedded throughout
A central positive charge surrounded by negative charge
Which investigation did Rutherford carry out?
Alpha particle scattering
Beta particle scattering
Gold atom scattering
Electron scattering
What discovery did James Chadwick make?
The nucleus is positively charged
Atoms have a nucleus
The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
Electrons orbit in energy levels
Which particle is NOT located in the nucleus
Proton
Neutron
Electron
What is the relative charge of a proton?
+1
-1
0
What is the relative charge of a neutron?
+1
-1
0
What is the relative charge of an electron?
+1
-1
0
What is the relative mass of a proton?
1
0
-1
What is the relative mass of a neutron?
1
0
-1
What is the relative mass of an electron?
1
0
-1
Which of the following are types of radiation given off during decay? (Choose more than one)
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Delta
What is an alpha particle?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is a beta particle?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is gamma radiation?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is the range of alpha radiation in air?
3-5cm
10-15cm
Many metres
What is the range of beta radiation in air?
3-5cm
10-15cm
Many metres
What is the range of gamma radiation in air?
3-5cm
10-15cm
Many metres
Which materials absorb alpha radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
Which materials absorb beta radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
Which materials absorb gamma radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
What is the ionising power of alpha radiation
Very high
Medium
Low
What is the ionising power of beta radiation
Very high
Medium
Low
What is the ionising power of gamma radiation
Very high
Medium
Low
How does alpha decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does beta decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does gamma decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does alpha decay alter the mass number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 4
Decreases by 4
Decreases by 2
The mass number does not change
How does beta decay alter the mass number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 4
Decreases by 4
Decreases by 2
The mass number does not change
How does gamma decay alter the mass number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 4
Decreases by 4
Decreases by 2
The mass number does not change
How is radiation used to treat cancer?
Gamma radiation rotates around the affected area. The radiation ionises and kills the cancer cells
Alpha radiation rotates around the affected area. The radiation ionises and kills the cancer cells
Gamma radiation is injected into the patient. The radiation is absorbed by organs, is detected on scans and kills the cancer cells
Alpha radiation is injected into the patient. The radiation is absorbed by organs, detected on scans and kills the cancer cells
Why is gamma radiation used in radiotherapy and tracers?
Weakly ionising, penetrates the body
Ionising power is medium, penetrates the body
Strongly ionising, stopped by skin cells
Healthy cells can become ionised. Which medical use of radiation is this risk associated with?
Radiotherapy
Tracers
Both
Which type of radiation does the equation represent?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation does the equation represent?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation does the equation represent?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation is represented by the symbol:
∝
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation is represented by the symbol:
β
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation is represented by the symbol:
Ɣ
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Subatomic particles with a negative charge
Electrons
Neutrons
Protons
Quarks
In which way are protons and electrons the same in an atom?
same mass
same number of particles
same charges
The mass number of an isotope is equal to the number of Protons + Neutrons in an atom.
Protons
Neutrons
Protons + Neutrons
Electrons
Which subatomic particle determines the identity of an element?
protons
neutrons
electrons
The electron is not included in the calculations for the atomic mass because
It has negative charge
It is located in the outer energy levels of the atom
Its mass is basically zero
It attracts neutral particles
What is an isotope?
An atom of an element with a different number of neutrons
An atom of an element with a different number of protons
An atom of an element with a different number of electrons
What is radioactive decay?
An unstable nucleus breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable atom breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable element breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
An unstable compound breaks down to become more stable, giving off radiation
What is activity?
The rate that nuclei decay
The rate that ions decay
The rate that protons decay
The rate that electrons decay
What is the unit of activity?
Becquerels (Bq)
Coulombs (C)
Hertz (Hz)
Pascals (Pa)
What is count rate?
Number of decays per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of ions per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of atoms per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
Number of neutrons per second by a Geiger-Muller tube
What is half-life?
The time taken for half of the nuclei in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the atoms in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the ions in a sample to decay
The time taken for half of the neutrons in a sample to decay
What is contamination?
Coming into contact with radioactive materials
Being exposed to radioactive materials
What is irradiation?
Coming into contact with radioactive materials
Being exposed to radioactive materials
What is ionisation?
The process of removing electrons from atoms
The process of removing protons from atoms
The process of removing neutrons from atoms
The process of removing nuclei from atoms
Select the effects of ionization on human cells
Cell death
Cancer
Mutation
How do electrons orbit atoms?
In energy levels
In shells
In layers
In locations
What happens to an electron that absorbs electromagnetic radiation such as light?
The electron moves away from the nucleus, to a higher energy level
The electron moves closer to the nucleus, to a lower energy level
The electron's position does not change
The electron will be removed from the atom
Which model of the atom is JJ Thomson responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
What happens to an electron that emits electromagnetic radiation such as light?
The electron moves away from the nucleus, to a higher energy level
The electron moves closer to the nucleus, to a lower energy level
The electron's position does not change
The electron will be removed from the atom
Which model of the atom is Rutherford responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which model of the atom is Niels Bohr responsible for?
Billiard ball model
Plum pudding
Nuclear model
He is not responsible for a model, he contributed to understanding electron energy levels
Which statement describes the plum pudding model?
Atoms are tiny spheres that can't be split into anything smaller
Atoms are balls of positive charge with negative electrons embedded throughout
A central positive charge surrounded by negative charge
Which investigation did Rutherford carry out?
Alpha particle scattering
Beta particle scattering
Gold atom scattering
Electron scattering
What discovery did James Chadwick make?
The nucleus is positively charged
Atoms have a nucleus
The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
Electrons orbit in energy levels
What is the relative mass of a neutron?
1
0
-1
Which of the following are types of radiation given off during decay? (Choose more than one)
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Delta
What is an alpha particle?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is a beta particle?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is gamma radiation?
Two protons and two neutrons
An electron given off when a neutron breaks down
A wave of electromagnetic radiation
What is the range of alpha radiation in air?
3-5cm
10-15cm
Many metres
What is the range of gamma radiation in air?
3-5cm
10-15cm
Many metres
Which materials absorb alpha radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
Which materials absorb beta radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
Which materials absorb gamma radiation?
Paper and dead skin cells
Thin aluminium foil
Several centimetres of lead
What is the ionising power of alpha radiation?
Very high
Medium
Low
What is the ionising power of gamma radiation?
Very high
Medium
Low
How does alpha decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does beta decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does gamma decay alter the atomic number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 2
Decreases by 2
Increases by 1
The atomic number does not change
How does alpha decay alter the mass number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 4
Decreases by 4
Decreases by 2
The mass number does not change
How does gamma decay alter the mass number of the parent nucleus?
Increases by 4
Decreases by 4
Decreases by 2
The mass number does not change
Which type of radiation does the equation represent?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation does the equation represent?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Which type of radiation is represented by the symbol:
∝
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
The count rate of an isotope is 1008 Bq. This falls to a count rate of 126 Bq over a period of 21 days. What is the half-life of the isotope?
4 days
5 days
6 days
7 days
The % of the parent isotope remaining after 1 Half Life.
50%
25%
12.5%
6.25%
After 22,800 years, approximately what percentage of the original carbon-14 remains?
15%
12.5%
6.25%
3.125%
If 20 mg of iodine-131 is given to a patient, how much is left after 32 days? The half-life of iodine-131 is 8 days.
32
1.25
10
2.5
Barium-122 has a half-life of 2 minutes. A fresh sample weighing 80 g was obtained. If it takes 10 minutes to set up an experiment using barium-122, how much barium-122 will be left when the experiment begins?
0.25g
2.5g
25g
80g
The diagram shows 32 atoms.
16 of the Red are parent isotopes
16 of the Green are daughter isotopes
How many half-lives have occurred?
0
1
2
3
Radioactive carbon-14 is often useful in determining the absolute age of geologic samples because radioactive isotopes
decay at a regular rate
become less stable during decay
remain unchanged over time
stabilize after four half-lives
Complete the nuclear reaction
85209At = ___ + 24He
83205Bi
86209Rn
81207Tl
85208At
What is the primary difference between isotopes of the same element?
Different number of protons
Different number of electrons
Different number of neutrons
Which of the following is a common use of gamma rays besides medical treatment?
Powering nuclear reactors
Sterilizing medical equipment
Improving plant growth
Enhancing chemical reactions
What force keeps electrons in orbit around the nucleus?
Electrostatic attraction
Gravity
Magnetic repulsion
Magnetic attraction
What piece of equipment is used to detect ionising radiation?
Balance
Geiger counter
Ammeter
Voltmeter
What can ionisation of DNA molecules lead to?
Huntington's disease
Down syndrome
Cancerous tumours
Diabetes
What type of particle did Ernest Rutherford fire at a thin sheet of gold foil?
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays
Cathode rays
How are the elements ordered in the periodic table?
By increasing atomic mass
By increasing atomic number
Alphabetically
By increasing number of neutrons
What are the constituents of beta particles?
Electromagnetic waves
Neutrons
2 protons and 2 neutrons
Electrons
Put these types of nuclear radiation in order of ionising power, from most ionising to least ionising.
Alpha, beta, gamma
Alpha, gamma, beta
Beta, alpha, gamma
Gamma, beta, alpha
Which element contains no neutrons in its most common isotope?
Nitrogen
Helium
Neon
Hydrogen
How does the atomic number and mass number change in alpha decay?
Atomic number increases by 2; mass number increases by 4
Atomic number decreases by 4; mass number decreases by 2
Atomic number increases by 4; mass number increases by 2
Atomic number decreases by 2; mass number decreases by 4
What is the missing number?
227
226
224
222
A radioactive substance has a half-life of 6 minutes. I
t starts with a count of 1236 counts/s.
What is the count after 12 minutes?
1236 counts/s
618 counts/s
309 counts/s
154 counts/s
Where does nuclear fusion occur?
Stars
Fighter jets
Cars
Nuclear power stations
What is an isotope?
Isotopes are different versions of the same element with the same number of electrons and different numbers of protons
Isotopes are different versions of the same element with the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons
Isotopes are different versions of the same element with the same number of neutrons and different numbers of electrons
Isotopes are different versions of the same element with the same number of neutrons and different numbers of protons
What is the half-life of this sample?
4000 years
5000 years
5500 years
6000 years
How many protons, neutrons and electrons are in this element?
209
Po
84
84 protons, 125 neutrons, 84 electrons
125 protons, 84 neutrons, 84 electrons
84 protons, 209 neutrons, 84 electrons
84 protons, 125 neutrons, 125 electrons
What is the half-life of this sample?
4.4 billion years
4 billion years
3 billion years
5 billion years
Why might an isoptope be unstable?
Too hot
Too many protons or neutrons
Too old
Pressure is too high
What are the constituents of alpha particles?
Electromagnetic waves
Neutrons
2 protons and 2 neutrons
Electrons
Why do pilots get a higher average radiation dose than other people?
Cosmic rays
Instrumentation in the aeroplane
There's less oxygen high in the atmosphere
They all have granite worktops in their kitchen
Why can't isotopes of an element be distinguished by chemical tests?
Isotopes of an element all bond chemically in the same way
Isotopes of an element don't participate in chemical reactions
Isotopes of an element are exactly the same
Isotopes of an element all bond chemically in different ways
Which is the only naturally occuring radioactive isotope of carbon?
Carbon-12
Carbon-13
Carbon-14
Carbon-15
In Rutherford's gold foil experiment, very few alpha particles were deflected through very large angles.
What did this tell Rutherford about the structure of the atom?
The atom is mostly empty space
The nucleus is very small and very dense
The nucleus is positive
Electrons orbit the nucleus
What is the charge on an alpha particle?
+2
+1
0
-1
What is the missing number?
224
225
226
227
The number of which subatomic particle controls what element an atom is?
Electrons
Neutrons
Protons
Quarks
What type of decay is this?
20179Au decays to 20180Hg
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
What type of decay is this?
23191Pa decays to 22789Ac
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
What are the constituents of gamma radiation?
Electromagnetic waves
Neutrons
2 protons and 2 neutrons
Electrons
What is the charge on gamma radiation?
+2
+1
0
-1
What is the missing number?
90
89
88
87
Which type of radiation is used to monitor paper thickness in factories?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
How many protons, neutrons and electrons are in this element?
13
C
6
7 protons,
6 neutrons,
7 electrons
6 protons,
13 neutrons,
13 electrons
6 protons,
7 neutrons,
6 electrons
6 protons,
13 neutrons,
6 electrons
What is the charge on a beta particle?
+2
+1
0
-1
200 mg of uranium‐238 has a half-life of 4.5 billion years.
How much will be left after 13.5 billion years?
200 mg
100 mg
50 mg
25 mg
Which scientist discovered the electron?
Democritus
Ernest Rutherford
J.J. Thompson
Niels Bohr
Which type of radiation is used as a medical tracer to track blood around a patient's body?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
Put these types of radiation in order, from most penetrating to least penetrating.
Alpha, beta, gamma
Alpha, gamma, beta
Beta, alpha, gamma
Gamma, beta, alpha
What is a suitable material for radioactive shielding?
Aluminium
Lead
Paper
Cloth
When considering radioactivity, what is ‘activity’?
Number of decays per second
Number of radioactive nuclei
Number of protons
Number of electrons
