Question 1

Which property of radioactive rays allows a Geiger counter to detect their presence?

Accepted Answer

Their ability to ionize matter

Question 2

Which of the following elements is naturally radioactive due to its atomic number?

Accepted Answer

Uranium (Z = 92)

Question 3

What is the result of alpha decay on the atomic and mass numbers of a nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Atomic number decreases by 2; mass number decreases by 4

Question 4

Which type of radioactive decay results in the emission of an electron-like particle from the nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Beta decay

Question 5

What is the nuclear equation for the alpha decay of $$^{224}_{88}Ra$$?

Accepted Answer

$$^{224}_{88}Ra \$$rightarrow ^{220}$$_{86}Rn $$+ ^{4}$$_{2}He$$

Question 6

Which statement about gamma ($$\gamma) $$emission is correct?

Accepted Answer

It involves the emission of a high-energy photon without changing the nucleus composition.

Question 7

What is the effect of beta decay on the atomic number and mass number of a nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Atomic number increases by 1; mass number remains the same

Question 8

Which device detects radioactivity by counting electrons generated when argon gas atoms are ionized?

Accepted Answer

Geiger-Müller counter

Question 9

A nuclide with a high neutron-to-proton (N/Z) ratio is most likely to undergo which type of decay?

Accepted Answer

Beta decay

Question 10

Which of the following is a correct nuclear equation for positron emission?

Accepted Answer

$$^{30}_{15}P \$$rightarrow ^{30}$$_{14}Si $$+ ^{0}$$_{+1}e$$

Question 11

Which type of radiation is most penetrating and requires lead plates or thick cement walls for protection?

Accepted Answer

Gamma rays

Question 12

What is the effect of electron capture on the atomic and mass numbers of a nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Atomic number decreases by 1; mass number remains the same

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the strong nuclear force?

Accepted Answer

It acts only over very short distances and binds protons and neutrons together.

Question 14

Which of the following nuclides is most likely to be stable?

Accepted Answer

A nuclide with even numbers of both protons and neutrons

Question 15

Which statement about decay series is correct?

Accepted Answer

A decay series ends when a stable nuclide is formed.

Question 16

Which device is used to measure the number of flashes of light produced when radioactive rays strike certain chemicals?

Accepted Answer

Scintillation counter

Question 17

Which equation represents the conservation of atomic and mass numbers in nuclear reactions?

Accepted Answer

$$^{238}_{92}U \$$rightarrow ^{234}$$_{90}Th $$+ ^{4}$$_{2}He$$

Question 18

Which type of decay is most likely for a nuclide with a low N/Z ratio?

Accepted Answer

Positron emission or electron capture

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a property of radioactive rays?

Accepted Answer

They always decrease the atomic number by 2

Chapter 20: Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry – Structured Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions