3.1 Quiz - Nuclear Emissions - Trivia & Questions

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| By Regentschemistry

Regentschemistry

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 8 | Total Attempts: 24,835

Questions: 10 | Attempts: 408 | Updated: Mar 21, 2023

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Questions and Answers

1.

The nucleus of U-238 is unstable. This causes U-238 to spontaneously...
- A.
  
  Oxidize
- B.
  
  Decay
- C.
  
  Reduce
- D.
  
  Combine
Correct Answer
B. Decay

Explanation
Unstable nuclei are due to the neutron-to-proton ratio being greater than 1.5:1, causing the nucleus to spontaneously decay or break down.

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2.

Which nuclear emission has the most mass and least penetrating power?
- A.
  
  Gamma radiation
- B.
  
  Alpha particles
- C.
  
  Beta particles
- D.
  
  Positrons
Correct Answer
B. Alpha particles

Explanation
Alpha particles have the greatest mass of 4 amu (top number on Table O), but the least penetrating power (remember: alphabetical order... Alpha, Beta, Gamma).

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3.

Which nuclear decay has the greatest penetrating power and the least mass?
- A.
  
  Alpha
- B.
  
  Beta
- C.
  
  Gamma
- D.
  
  Positron
Correct Answer
C. Gamma

Explanation
Gamma radiation has the greatest penetrating power (remember: alpha, beta, gamma), but the least mass (0 amu, top number on Table O).

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4.

Which nuclear decay consists of energy, only?
- A.
  
  Gamma
- B.
  
  Alpha
- C.
  
  Beta
- D.
  
  Positrons
Correct Answer
A. Gamma

Explanation
Gamma particles are equivalent to energy. They have a mass of 0 amu (top number, Table O) and a charge of 0 (bottom number, Table O).

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5.

Which nuclear decay consists of electrons?
- A.
  
  Positrons
- B.
  
  Gamma particles
- C.
  
  Alpha particles
- D.
  
  Beta particles
Correct Answer
D. Beta particles

Explanation
Beta particles equal electrons. They have a mass of 0 amu (top number, Table O) and a charge of -1 (bottom number, Table O).

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6.

Which nuclear decay consists of helium nuclei?
- A.
  
  Positrons
- B.
  
  Alpha particles
- C.
  
  Beta particles
- D.
  
  Gamma radiation
Correct Answer
B. Alpha particles

Explanation
Alpha particles equal helium nuclei. They have a mass of 4 amu (top number, Table O) and a charge of +2 (bottom number, Table O).

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7.

Which list correctly ranks nuclear emissions in order of increasing mass?
- A.
  
  Alpha, beta, gamma, positron
- B.
  
  Beta/Gamma/Positron, Alpha
- C.
  
  Beta, Alpha, Gamma, Positron
- D.
  
  Positron, Alpha, Gamma, Beta
Correct Answer
B. Beta/Gamma/Positron, Alpha

Explanation
Beta, Gamma, and Positrons all have a mass of 0 amu (top number on Table O), meaning smallest mass. Alpha particles have the largest mass of 4 amu (top number on Table O).

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8.

Which list correctly organizes nuclear emissions in order of increasing charge?
- A.
  
  Beta, Positron, Gamma, Alpha
- B.
  
  Positron, Beta, Gamma, Alpha
- C.
  
  Beta, Gamma, Positron, Alpha
- D.
  
  Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Positron
Correct Answer
C. Beta, Gamma, Positron, Alpha

Explanation
Beta particles have the smallest charge of -1, Gamma particles have a charge of 0, Positrons have a charge of +1, Alpha particles have a charge of +2 (bottom number, Table O).

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1
0
9.

Without looking at a graph, why is O-16 a stable nuclide?
- A.
  
  Because it has a 8:1 ratio of protons to neutrons
- B.
  
  Because it has a 1:1 neutron-to-proton ratio
- C.
  
  Because it has a 1.6:1 neutron-to-proton ratio
- D.
  
  Because it has a 16:8 proton-to-neutron ratio
Correct Answer
B. Because it has a 1:1 neutron-to-proton ratio

Explanation
The number of protons equals atomic number. The number of neutrons equals mass number (16 for O-16) minus atomic number (8 for O-16). The band of stability (range of stabilities for neutron-to-proton ratios) is 1:1-1.5:1. Any nuclide with a neutron-to-proton ratio in this range is stable and will not spontaneously decay.

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10.

Which of the following correctly lists the number of protons, the number of neutrons, the mass number, and the nuclide notation for N on this graph? (ONLY use this graph. Do not look at other references. I want you to test how much you know!!!!)
- A.
  
  9 protons, 7 neutrons, Mass Number of 16, N-16 for nuclide
- B.
  
  6 protons, 6 neutrons, Mass Number of 12, C-12 for nuclide
- C.
  
  16 protons, 16 neutrons, Mass Number of 32, S-32 for nuclide
- D.
  
  7 protons, 9 neutrons, Mass Number of 16, N-16 for nuclide
Correct Answer
D. 7 protons, 9 neutrons, Mass Number of 16, N-16 for nuclide

Explanation
Number of protons=x-value, number of neutrons=y-value, mass number=protons + neutrons, nuclide=symbol + mass number.

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Current Version
Mar 21, 2023

Quiz Edited by
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Oct 27, 2015

Quiz Created by
Regentschemistry

3.1 Quiz - Nuclear Emissions

The nucleus of U-238 is unstable. This causes U-238 to spontaneously...

Which nuclear emission has the most mass and least penetrating power?

Which nuclear decay has the greatest penetrating power and the least mass?

Which nuclear decay consists of energy, only?

Which nuclear decay consists of electrons?

Which nuclear decay consists of helium nuclei?

Which list correctly ranks nuclear emissions in order of increasing mass?

Which list correctly organizes nuclear emissions in order of increasing charge?

Without looking at a graph, why is O-16 a stable nuclide?

Which of the following correctly lists the number of protons, the number of neutrons, the mass number, and the nuclide notation for N on this graph? (ONLY use this graph. Do not look at other references. I want you to test how much you know!!!!)