Question 1

When an element undergoes beta decay, what changes occur in its mass number and atomic number?

Accepted Answer

The mass number does not change and the atomic number increases by 1.

Question 2

Which of the following is the correct representation of an alpha particle?

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{4}_{2}\mathrm{He}\ $$

Question 3

At approximately what number of protons or neutrons does the 1:1 ratio of protons to neutrons start to produce unstable nuclei?

Accepted Answer

20

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{241}_{95}\mathrm{Am}\ $$

Question 5

In the nuclear transmutation $$\ ^{16}\mathrm{O} (p, \alpha)\ ^{13}\mathrm{N} $$, what is the bombarding particle?

Accepted Answer

a proton

Question 6

What is the product of the nuclear reaction in which $$\ ^{28}\mathrm{Si}  is $$subjected to neutron capture followed by alpha emission?

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{25}\mathrm{Mg}\ $$

Question 7

The reaction $$\ ^{40}\mathrm{Ca} ightarrow \ ^{40}\mathrm{K} + 	ext{?}  is an $$example of:

Accepted Answer

positron decay

Question 8

A radioactive isotope undergoes alpha decay. Which of the following correctly describes the change in its atomic and mass numbers?

Accepted Answer

Atomic number decreases by 2, mass number decreases by 4.

Question 9

Which nuclear process is responsible for the emission of a positron ($$\ ^{0}_{+1}\mathrm{e}\ ) $$from a nucleus?

Accepted Answer

Positron decay

Question 10

A nuclide with a high neutron-to-proton ratio is most likely to undergo which type of radioactive decay?

Accepted Answer

Beta decay

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why heavy elements (with atomic number greater than 83) are generally radioactive?

Accepted Answer

Their nuclei cannot be stabilized by the strong nuclear force alone.

Question 12

A patient is injected with a radioactive isotope for medical imaging. The isotope decays by beta emission. What happens to the atomic number of the isotope after decay?

Accepted Answer

It increases by 1.

Question 13

Which of the following nuclear reactions is an example of neutron capture followed by alpha emission?

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{28}\mathrm{Si} + \ ^{1}\mathrm{n} \rightarrow \ ^{29}\mathrm{Si} \rightarrow \ ^{25}\mathrm{Mg} + \ ^{4}\mathrm{He} $$

Question 14

Which of the following statements about beta decay is correct?

Accepted Answer

A neutron is converted into a proton, and a beta particle is emitted.

Question 15

If $$\ ^{16}\mathrm{O}  is $$bombarded with a proton and emits an alpha particle, what is the resulting nuclide?

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{13}\mathrm{N} $$

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a plausible product of alpha decay?

Accepted Answer

$$\ ^{40}\mathrm{K} $$ from $$\ ^{40}\mathrm{Ca} $$

Question 17

A nuclide undergoes positron emission. What is the effect on its atomic number?

Accepted Answer

It decreases by 1.

Question 18

Which of the following particles is emitted during electron capture?

Accepted Answer

No particle is emitted; an electron is absorbed.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the change in a nucleus during alpha decay?

Accepted Answer

The nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons.

Question 20

A radioactive isotope used in smoke detectors is $$\ ^{241}\mathrm{Am} . $$What type of decay does it primarily undergo?

Accepted Answer

Alpha decay

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