Radioactive decay worksheet for high school :PHYSICS

Below are some radioactive decay example  an answers, radioactivity , involve an un-induced emission  of alpha beta or gamma rays, resulting in the transmutation of the involving atom into a new atom.

determine the identity of the daughter nuclide from the electron capture by be.

 The daughter nuclide will have an atomic number of 3 and a mass number same to that of it parent nucleus.  An electron capture occurs when of the inner electrons of an atom is captured by the nucleus. A proton decays into a neutron and neutrino.

 Since a proton is lost into a neutron, the nuclear charge decrease by one while the total number of nucleon remain unchanged. The atom that will be form will therefore have n atomic number of 3, the atom that fit the above description is lithium

 Let us put down the decay equation

^A₄Be+ ⁰_-1e → ^A₃Li

determine the identity of the daughter nuclide from the alpha decay of 210 84po.

 When polonium undergo an alpha decay, it loses two protons and two neutrons, the atomic number of the daughter nucleus decreases by two while the mass number decreases by four, the daughter nuclide formed   will therefore be lead-206.

 Let us put down the nuclear decay equation below to see

²¹⁰₈₄Po→  ²⁰⁶₈₂Pb + ⁴₂He  

 Let us balance the above equation, to see if our answer is actually correct.

 The law of conservation of matter requires that the total sum of superscript on the left hand side must be equal to the total sum of the super script on the right hand side, the total sum of subscript on the left hand side must be equal to the sum of subscript on the right hand side, in other words , the sum of all the mass numbers of the reactants must be equal to the total sum of all the mass number s on the product side and also the total sum of all the atomic numbers  must be equal to the total sum of all the atomic number on the product side.

 For the above equations

 The superscript

210→ 206+4 =210

For the subscript

84 →82+2 =84

 Therefore the above equation is balanced. 

the following reaction represents what nuclear process? 235 92 u + 1 0 n → ?........

  Though the above equation is not complete , but we can deduce that it a nuclear fission reaction.

 A nuclear fission is type of nuclear reaction where a large nucleus split into two smaller nuclei . this only occur when this nuclide is bombarded by small particles like protons and neutrons.

¹₀ n + ²³⁵₉₂U→  ¹³⁹₅₆Ba +⁹⁴₃₆Kr  +3 ¹₀ n

  The above is the complete nuclear reaction equation.

    A urnium-235 is shot with a neutron,  the uranium is target or the heavy nucleus, while the neutron is the projectile,  two product is formed krypton and barium,

 We can balance the above reaction to find out we are wrong or right.

  To balance a nuclear reaction,

The law of conservation of matter requires that the total sum of superscript on the left hand side must be equal to the total sum of the super script on the right hand side, the total sum of subscript on the left hand side must be equal to the sum of subscript on the right hand side, in other words , the sum of all the mass numbers of the reactants must be equal to the total sum of all the mass number s on the product side and also the total sum of all the atomic numbers  must be equal to the total sum of all the atomic number on the product side.

Therefore we have

 For the super script we have,

1+ 235  →139+94+ 3=236

And for the subscript , we have

0+92 →56+36+0=92

 Therefore the above equation is balanced.

the following reaction represents what nuclear process am → he np

let me start by rewriting the equation in clear terms,

²⁴¹₉₅Am+→ ²³⁷₉₃Np + ⁴₂He

 this is an alpha decay

 The nuclide formed is neptunium, let us balance the above equation to see if we are wrong, when americium -241 undergo an alpha decay, it loses two protons and two neuron, the atomic number increases by 2 while the atomic mass decreases by four t, the daughter  nuclide is nuclide formed will be n two places above the parent nuclide in the periodic table of element.

 The atom that fit the above description is neptunium-237.

identify the missing particle in the following nuclear equation 22890th→42he+

  when  thorium-228 undergo an alpha decay, it loses two proton from it atomic number and four masses from it mass number the nuclide formed will have an atomic number of  88 and a mass number of 224. The daughter nuclide that will be formed will have an atomic number of 88 and a mass number of 224.

 Let us write the decay equation below to see it

²²⁸₉₀Th→ ²²⁴₈₈Ra + ⁴₂He

 Let us balance the above equation to see if we are right or wrong

 For the superscript we have

229 →224 +4

And for the subscript

 We have

90 → 88+2=90

 Therefore the missing particle is radium-224.

the following reaction represents what nuclear process? 23595u+10n→13956ba+9436kr+310n

 let me write down the equation in a more clear terms,

 ¹₀ n + ²³⁵₉₂U→ ¹³⁹₅₆Ba +⁹⁴₃₆Kr  +3 ¹₀ n

 The above reaction is a nuclear fission reaction,   ¹₀ n is a protons used in bombarding the uranium, the uranium is a heavy nucleus, , these are from the reactant side, for the product side we have. Krypton and barium formed, they are two lighter nucleus and the rest are other neutron that can be used in another fission reaction.

 If you can remember, a nuclear fission is when light nucleus  splits into two smaller but unequal nuclide.

 Since the uranium is larger nucleus then the process is a nuclear fission reaction.

what produces more energy fission or fusion

 let us start it like this fission produces energy when a larger nuclide split into smaller ones while nuclear fission produces energy when a smaller nuclide come together to produces a larger nuclide.

 The energy produces by nuclear fusion reaction is about 4 times more than the energy produces by a nuclear  fission reaction, 

the  fusion reaction requires an energy equivalent to is produces during a fission reaction to start. The fusion therefore produces a tremendous energy more than fission. This is why it is called a thermonuclear energy.

 One advantage of fission over fission is that the fission is easy to harnessed and used for  energy production and peaceful use whereas fusion is not easy to harnessed,

 In fact up to date, fusion reaction has not been harnessed for peaceful use, the only available manmade fusion use is in hydrogen bombs or in thermonuclear bombs.

which reaction produces the most energy per mass? fission ,fusion  or chemical ionization

 fusion is the reaction that produces an energy the most, in fact, it produce an energy 3 to 4 time as much as what is produce in fission reaction while  what is produce is a simple nuclear reaction ( bot fusion and fission) is several hundredths of millions ties of what is produced in  chemical ionization.

why are nuclear reactors encased in concrete

 Thick concrete are used to prevent destructive radiation from getting into the human environment.

 During a nuclear reaction, there are radiation emission,  these radiation are ionizing and dangerous, meaning when they get contact with any object in their path they can  plug out electrons from them.

 Alpha particles, gamma rays, beta particles, neutrons etc are some of the radiation that are been emitted during all these process. These particles have high energy, they move very fast and can ionize human body and any other object I their part.

 Alpha can be blocked a sit of paper, beta can be blocked by a  shit of aluminum while gamma can penetrate almost  and it has a very high energy but a very thick concrete canblock it.

Apart from these particle there are also other compound and nulcides that are very poisonous to human and animals .

write a nuclear equation for the fusion of two h−2 atoms to form he−3 and one neutron.

 The nuclear reaction is a fusion type, therefore the equation will be

²₁H + ²₁H →  ³₂H  + ¹₀n

  When two deuteron fused together , they will produce helium-3 an a neutron,

 This is nuclear fusion reaction and happens under extreme temperatures and pressure.

 Let us balance the above equation to find out , if we are actually write or wrong

For the superscript, we have

2+2= 3+1

 And for the subscript , we have

1+1= 2+0

 Since both sides are equal the above equation is balanced.

which is the correct nuclear equation for the fusion of hydrogen-3 with hydrogen-1 to form helium-4?

  This is nuclear fusion reaction and only occur , since two light nuclide combine to form a heavy nuclide,

 Let us write the nuclear equation now,

¹₁H + ³₁H →  ⁴₂H  + ^energy

 When proton combine with triton to form helium-4 large amount of energy is liberated,

 Let us balance the above equation to find out if we are right or wrong.

 For the super script

1+3  →4

And for the subscript

And 1+1→ 2

 Balanced.

 how many neutrons are needed to initiate the fission reaction shown 235/92 u

 let us write the nuclear equation 1^st

¹₀ n + ²³⁵₉₂U→  ¹³⁹₅₆Ba +⁹⁴₃₆Kr  +3 ¹₀ n

 As you can see from the left hand side only one neutron is needed to split uranium-235 to form krypton and barium.