6) A nuclear reaction involves much higher energies than a chemical reaction.
7) An electron is an example of a nucleon.
8) Isotopes with the lowest possible n/p ratio are usually the most stable.
9) The half-life of an isotope decreases as the initial concentration decreases.
10) Both the proton and neutron have the same mass number.
11) The atomic number of a neutron is 1.
12) An alpha particle is neutral.
13) A beta particle has a -1 charge.
14) The daughter isotope of 200Hg when it undergoes alpha-emission is 196Pt.
15) The daughter isotope of 203Po when it undergoes alpha-emission is 207Pb.
16) The daughter isotope of 210Po when it undergoes beta-emission is 210At.
17) Many radioactive nuclei release energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, such as
gamma rays.
18) 13C is the carbon isotope used for radioactive carbon dating.
19) The half life of 14C is 5,715 years.
20) A fusion reaction creates more energy than a fission reaction.
21) A fission reaction is always endothermic.
22) If nuclear energy is released all at once, a nuclear bomb can be created.
23) Nuclear radiation can cause biological damage by the weakening or breaking of bonds.
24) During the MRI procedure the human is placed in a magnetic field and radio waves are used
to probe certain nuclei in the body.
16.3 Short Answer Questions
1) What is the mass defect of the carbon-14 isotope (in g/mol)? Carbon-14 has an atomic mass of
14.0032 g/mol.
2) What is the mass defect of the lithium-9 isotope in g/mol? Lithium-9 has an atomic mass of
9.0273 g/mol.
3) Calculate the binding energy of oxygen-16 in J/mol. This isotope has an atomic mass of
15.9949 g/mol.
4) Calculate the binding energy of neon-22 in J/mol. This isotope has an atomic mass of 21.9914
g/mol.
5) The half-life of chlorine-34 is 1.52 seconds. How much time will pass before a given sample
of chlorine-34 decays by 60%?
6) Calculate the amount of energy released when this nuclear reaction occurs inside an atomic
warhead:
1n + 235U → 137Te + 97Zr + 2 1n
(235U = 235.0439 g/mol; 137Te = 136.9254 g/mol; 97Zr = 96.9110 g/mol; 1n = 1.00866 g/mol)
7) Uranium-238 can capture a neutron inside a nuclear reactor (a so-called breeder reactor),
producing an isotope of plutonium and two beta particles. The plutonium can then itself be used
as a nuclear fuel. Write a balanced equation for the breeder reactor’s production of plutonium
(include isotope number) from uranium-238.
17
8) Fusion reactors of the future hope to make use of the following reaction:
2H + 3H → 4He + 1n
How much energy is released in this process (in J/mol)?
(2H = 2.0141 g/mol; 3H = 3.0160 g/mol; 4He = 4.0026 g/mol; 1n = 1.00866 g/mol)
For the following nuclear reactions, supply the missing isotope, or elementary particle.
9) 22Na → ________ + +1e
10) ________ → 226Rn + 4He
11) 14N + 4He → ________ + 1H
12) 238U + ________ → 239Np + -1e
13) 1n + ________ → 140Ba + 90Kr + 3 1n
18
14) 3H + 2H → ________ + 1n
15) 137Nd → 24Mg + ________
16) 37Ar + -1e → ________
17) 146Sm → ________ + 142Nd
18) 16O + 4He → ________
19
16.4 Matching Questions
Match each of the transformations that appear in the left column with the process that appears in
the right column.
A) beta emission
B) electron capture
C) alpha emission
1) 238U → 234Th
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
2) 40K → 40Ar
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
3) 1p → 1n
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
4) 14C → 14N
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
5) 230Th → 226Ra
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
6) 209Bi → 209Po
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
7) 210Po → 206Pb
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
8) 197Hg → 197Au
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
9) 17F → 17O
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
Match each isotope in the left column with its location on the band of stability that appears in the
right column.
A) directly on
B) below
C) above
10) carbon-12
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
11) iron-56
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
12) hydrogen-1
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
13) calcium-40
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
14) uranium-238
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
15) cobalt-60
Section: Section 16.2
Learning Outcome: 16.2 Understand what the Band of Stability is and its relationship to the
neutron to proton ratio.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
Match each of the isotopes that appear in the left column with the corresponding mechanism that
provides a more stable product (a p/n ratio closer to 1) that appears in the right column.
A) alpha emission
B) beta emission
16) protactinium-234
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
17) radium-226
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
18) uranium-238
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
19) bismuth-214
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G2 Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.
Match each of the isotopes that appear in the left column with the daughter isotope produced via
an alpha-emission.
A) thorium-234
B) flerovium-286
C) radon-220
D) lead-206
E) bohrium-262
F) meitnerium-275
20) uranium-238
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
21) radium-224
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
22) livermorium-290
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
23) meitnerium-266
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
24) polonium-210
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
25) roentgenium-279
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
Match each of the isotopes that appear in the left column with the daughter isotope produced via
a beta-emission.
A) molybdenum-96
B) beryllium-9
C) francium-223
D) protactinium-234
E) fluorine-19
26) radon-223
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
27) lithium-9
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
28) thorium-234
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
29) niobium-96
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.
30) oxygen-19
Section: Section 16.3
Learning Outcome: 16.6 Write and balance nuclear reactions.
Global Obj: G4 Demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to succeed in chemistry.