Help with Radioactive Decay - High School Chemistry
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What kind of radiation has no charge or mass?
What kind of radiation has no charge or mass?
This is the definition of gamma radiation.
This is the definition of gamma radiation.
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What is the cause for radioactive decay?
What is the cause for radioactive decay?
Radioactive decay is the result of an unstable nucleus in an atom. When an atom contains more neutrons than the nucleus can handle it will undergo radioactive decay, leading to emission of different particles such as alpha particles or beta electrons. This can occur in ground state elemental atoms, but is most commonly seen in radioactive isotopes. Isotopes contain the same number of protons as any other atom of a given element, but often contain a greater number of neutrons, leading to instability. These neutrons will be lost via radioactive decay in order for the atom to reach the ground state, the most stable isotope.
Ionization results in a charged particle via electron transfer, but does not contribute to radioactivity.
Radioactive decay is the result of an unstable nucleus in an atom. When an atom contains more neutrons than the nucleus can handle it will undergo radioactive decay, leading to emission of different particles such as alpha particles or beta electrons. This can occur in ground state elemental atoms, but is most commonly seen in radioactive isotopes. Isotopes contain the same number of protons as any other atom of a given element, but often contain a greater number of neutrons, leading to instability. These neutrons will be lost via radioactive decay in order for the atom to reach the ground state, the most stable isotope.
Ionization results in a charged particle via electron transfer, but does not contribute to radioactivity.
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Which type of radioactive decay does not emit any physical matter?
Which type of radioactive decay does not emit any physical matter?
Gamma radiation is the only form of radioactive decay that does not emit a physical particle from the atomic nucleus. It is simply the release of energy in the form of high energy gamma rays, which do not carry any mass. These rays are more powerful than any other electromagnetic wave known to man.
Alpha decay results in the release of a helium nucleus. Beta decay results in the release of an electron or a positron. Electron capture results in the emission of a neutron.
Gamma radiation is the only form of radioactive decay that does not emit a physical particle from the atomic nucleus. It is simply the release of energy in the form of high energy gamma rays, which do not carry any mass. These rays are more powerful than any other electromagnetic wave known to man.
Alpha decay results in the release of a helium nucleus. Beta decay results in the release of an electron or a positron. Electron capture results in the emission of a neutron.
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Fluorine-18 is a radioactive isotope of fluorine that is used in medical imaging scans. It has a half-life of approximately 110 minutes.
If a patient has a medical imaging scan using an injection of fluorine-18 at 9am, at what time will there be less than 25% of the radioactive isotope in her body?
Fluorine-18 is a radioactive isotope of fluorine that is used in medical imaging scans. It has a half-life of approximately 110 minutes.
If a patient has a medical imaging scan using an injection of fluorine-18 at 9am, at what time will there be less than 25% of the radioactive isotope in her body?
A half life is the amount of time it takes a radioactive sample to decay by 50%. To reach 25% of the initial dose would take two half lives.
It will take 220 minutes, or 3 hours and 40 minutes, for there to be 25% of the sample remaining. Since the sample was administered at 9am, this means that there will be less than 25% remaining at 1pm.
A half life is the amount of time it takes a radioactive sample to decay by 50%. To reach 25% of the initial dose would take two half lives.
It will take 220 minutes, or 3 hours and 40 minutes, for there to be 25% of the sample remaining. Since the sample was administered at 9am, this means that there will be less than 25% remaining at 1pm.
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Which of the following is not a type of nuclear particle involved in radioactive decay?
Which of the following is not a type of nuclear particle involved in radioactive decay?
Alpha decay, beta decay, and positron emission are all commonly recognized forms of radioactive decay. Electron capture is another form of nuclear alteration via radioactivity. The nucleolus is a biological structure found in cells, and has no relation to the atomic nuclei described in chemistry.
Alpha decay, beta decay, and positron emission are all commonly recognized forms of radioactive decay. Electron capture is another form of nuclear alteration via radioactivity. The nucleolus is a biological structure found in cells, and has no relation to the atomic nuclei described in chemistry.
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Consider the following isotope of thorium:
What is the identity of the product following three alpha decay reactions?
Consider the following isotope of thorium:
What is the identity of the product following three alpha decay reactions?
During alpha decay, an element emits a helium nucleus with 2 neutrons and 2 protons. Thus, the atomic mass of the new element is decreased by four, and the atomic number is decreased by two.
Three subsequent alpha decays result in a new element with an atomic mass of 232 - 3(4) = 220, and a new atomic number of 90 - 3(2) = 84.
Using the periodic table, we find the element with this atomic number is polonium (Po).
During alpha decay, an element emits a helium nucleus with 2 neutrons and 2 protons. Thus, the atomic mass of the new element is decreased by four, and the atomic number is decreased by two.
Three subsequent alpha decays result in a new element with an atomic mass of 232 - 3(4) = 220, and a new atomic number of 90 - 3(2) = 84.
Using the periodic table, we find the element with this atomic number is polonium (Po).
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Consider the following isotope:
What is the identity of the product after the following series of decay reactions?
alpha decay, alpha decay, electron emission, positron emission, positron emission
Consider the following isotope:
What is the identity of the product after the following series of decay reactions?
alpha decay, alpha decay, electron emission, positron emission, positron emission
In alpha decay, a helium nucleus is emitted, and thus the isotope loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
In electron emission, a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton and an emitted electron.
In positron emission, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron and an emitted positron.
The given isotope will lose 4 protons and 4 neutrons via alpha emission, gain 1 proton and lose 1 neutron via electron emission, and lose 2 protons and gain 2 neutrons via positron emission. The result is a loss of 5 protons and 8 mass units.
Accounting for the changes in atomic mass and number, we find that the final element is 141-praseodymium.
In alpha decay, a helium nucleus is emitted, and thus the isotope loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
In electron emission, a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton and an emitted electron.
In positron emission, a proton in the nucleus is converted into a neutron and an emitted positron.
The given isotope will lose 4 protons and 4 neutrons via alpha emission, gain 1 proton and lose 1 neutron via electron emission, and lose 2 protons and gain 2 neutrons via positron emission. The result is a loss of 5 protons and 8 mass units.
Accounting for the changes in atomic mass and number, we find that the final element is 141-praseodymium.
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The half-life of a certain isotope is 20min. How long will it take for 1g of the isotope to decay to 0.25g?
The half-life of a certain isotope is 20min. How long will it take for 1g of the isotope to decay to 0.25g?
By definition, half-life is the amount of time it takes for a radioactive substance to decrease by one-half its original value. In this question, the isotope's half life is 20min, meaning after 20min, 1g of the isotope will be reduced to 0.5g. After another 20min, 0.5g of the isotope will be reduced to 0.25g. Adding up the two 20min time frames it took to go from 1g of substance to 0.25g gives 40min.
By definition, half-life is the amount of time it takes for a radioactive substance to decrease by one-half its original value. In this question, the isotope's half life is 20min, meaning after 20min, 1g of the isotope will be reduced to 0.5g. After another 20min, 0.5g of the isotope will be reduced to 0.25g. Adding up the two 20min time frames it took to go from 1g of substance to 0.25g gives 40min.
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A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 
days. If a chemist has a sample of 
, how long will it take until there is 
of the sample?
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of
There is an equation to calculate half-life problems, but if the sample is cut into halves every half-life, there is a simple way to find the time passed. Let's start with the total mass of the sample at time 
. For every 
the sample size will be cut in half:
After 
there will be 
of the isotope left.
There is an equation to calculate half-life problems, but if the sample is cut into halves every half-life, there is a simple way to find the time passed. Let's start with the total mass of the sample at time
After
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Technetium-99 is used in hospitals and has a very short half-life of about 
. If a lab receives 
of Technetium-99, how much of the sample will remain after 
?
Technetium-99 is used in hospitals and has a very short half-life of about
For problems with half-life, we will use the equation
Where 
is the initial mass of the sample, 
is the amount left after time 
passes and 
is the half-life of the isotope. We have
For problems with half-life, we will use the equation
Where
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A radioactive isotope has an exponential decay as pictured in the above plot of sample amount vs time. From the graph, estimate the half-life of the isotope.
A radioactive isotope has an exponential decay as pictured in the above plot of sample amount vs time. From the graph, estimate the half-life of the isotope.
To estimate the half-life we just see how long it takes for the sample to be cut in half. The green lines indicate when there is half the initial sample (
) which happens after 
passes. Therefore the half-life is 
.
Check: Will the sample be cut in half again after another 
? The orange lines indicate the mass of the sample after another half-life and indeed there is now 
which is half of 
.
To estimate the half-life we just see how long it takes for the sample to be cut in half. The green lines indicate when there is half the initial sample (
Check: Will the sample be cut in half again after another
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What is the relationship between neutrons and protons of nuclides with respect to zone of stability?
What is the relationship between neutrons and protons of nuclides with respect to zone of stability?
First of all, it's important to understand terminology used in this kind of a concept question. A nuclide refers to a particular atom or nucleus with neutrons and protons. As we know, neutrons refer to the neutrally charged particles within a nucleus, while protons refer to those that are positively charged.
The zone of stability is a roughly linear pattern that follows a positive correlation with number of protons and neutrons. As the number of protons increases in the nucleus, so does the number of neutrons to allow for stability.
When a nuclide falls above or below the zone of stability, it creates a beta or alpha positron, respectively. These nuclides would not be considered stable, as they show degradation over time.
First of all, it's important to understand terminology used in this kind of a concept question. A nuclide refers to a particular atom or nucleus with neutrons and protons. As we know, neutrons refer to the neutrally charged particles within a nucleus, while protons refer to those that are positively charged.
The zone of stability is a roughly linear pattern that follows a positive correlation with number of protons and neutrons. As the number of protons increases in the nucleus, so does the number of neutrons to allow for stability.
When a nuclide falls above or below the zone of stability, it creates a beta or alpha positron, respectively. These nuclides would not be considered stable, as they show degradation over time.
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