S a l m a n S I r’s S t r u c t u r e d QuestIo ns

R A DIOACTIVITY
1 Mark Questions

1. In β-emission from a radioactive substance, an electron is ejected. This electron comes

from the
(a) outermost orbit of atom (c) surface of substance
(b) inner orbits of atom (d) nucleus of atom

2. Which of the following radiation suffers most deflection in magnetic field?

(a) α-particles (c) X-rays
(b) β-particles (d) γ-radiations

3. The radiation with maximum penetrating power is

(a) γ-rays (c) X-rays
(b) β-rays (d) α-rays

4. The nuclear radiation which gets deflected towards negatively charged plate in an electric
field is
(a) gamma (c) beta
(b) ultraviolet (d) alpa

5. When a nucleus in an atom undergoes a radioactive decay, then the electronic energy levels
of the atom
(a) do not change for any type of radioactivity
(b) change for α and β-decay but not for γ-radioactivity
(c) change for α-decay but not for others
(d) change for β-decay but not for others

6. The particle used in nuclear fission for bombardment is

(a) α-particle (b) proton
(c) neutron (d) β-particle

7. The required temperature of thermonuclears reaction is

(a) 10³ K (b) 10⁴ K (c) 10⁵ K (d) 10⁷ Κ

8. When four hydrogen nuclei combine to form a helium nucleus in the interior of sun, what
amount of energy released per nucleon in this process?
(a) 46.3 MeV (b) 24.5 MeV (c) 18.5 MeV (d) 26.7 MeV

2 Marks Questions

9. How is the radioactivity of a radio isotope affected, if it undergoes a chemical change?

Give a reason for your answer.

10. (i) What are isobars?

(ii) Give one example of isobars.

11. At what condition does the nucleus of an atom become radioactive?

12. When does the nucleus of an atom, tend to be radioactive?

13. In heavy nuclei, number of neutrons is greater than the number of protons. Why?

14. When a radioactive substance is oxidised, will there be any change in the nature of its
radioactivity? Give a reason for your answer

15. A mixture of radioactive substances gives off three types of radiations.

(i) Name the radiation which travels with the speed of light.
(ii) Name the radiation which has the highest ionising power.

16. Point out the comparison for

(i) the ionising powers and (ii) penetrating powers of α, β and γ-
radiations.

17. "α and β-particles are deflected in an electric field or a magnetic field, while y-rays are
not deflected in such a field". Comment on this statement.

18. What happens to the atomic number of an element, when it emits

(i) an α-particle and (ii) a β-particle?

19. A certain radioactive nucleus emits a particle that leaves its mass unchanged but increases
its atomic number by one. Identity the particle and write its symbol.

20. Which of the radioactive radiations occurs in the following cases:

(i) That can cause severe genetic disorder.
(ii) Are deflected by an electric field?

21. (i) Which radiation produces maximum biological damage?

(ii) What happens to the atomic number of an element, when the radiation named by you in
part (i) above are emitted?

22. Name the radioactive isotope used to find the age of fossils. Name the radioactive
radiation which it emits?

23. What is nuclear fission reaction? Give an example equation to explain it.

24. (i) What do you understand by the term nuclear fusion?

(ii) Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission reaction to produce electricity. What is the
advantage of producing by fusion reaction?

25. Differentiate between radioactive decay and nuclear fission.

3 Marks Question

26. Arrange α, ,β and γ-rays in ascending order with respect to their

(i) penetrating power (ii) ionising power (iii) biological effect

27. (i) Name the particles given out during radioactive decay.
(ii) Show by equation, the effect on the proton number Z and mass number A of the parent
nucleus brought about by the two types of radioactive decay.
(iii) What is carbon-14 dating?

28. The ore of uranium found in nature contains 92U238 and 92U235.
Although both the isotopes are fissionable, it is found out experimentally that one of the two
isotopes is more easily fissionable.
29. (i) What is meant by radioactivity?
(ii) What is meant by nuclear waste?
(iii) Suggest one effective process for the safe disposal of nuclear waste.

30. (i) Complete the following nuclear changes

"#$ " &
!"𝑃 → −𝑄 + 𝐻𝑒% → −𝑅 + _𝑒
(ii) Name the nuclear radiation which has the highest ionising power.

31. (i) Define radioactivity.

(ii) What happens inside the nucleus, that causes the emission of β-particle?
(iii) Express the above change in the form of an equation.

32. (i) Name the radioactive radiations which have the least penetrating power.
(ii) Give one use of radioisotopes.
(iii) What is meant by background radiation?

33. (i) Mention two important precautions that should be taken while handling radioactive
materials.
(ii) Why does the nuclei of increasing mass number fissioned easily?

4 Marks Questions

34. Explain in brief the given statement: "radioactivity is a nuclear phenomenon."

35. Describe briefly, two properties of each of α and β-particles.

36. Specify two properties of β-particles and γ-rays.

37. Write a comparison table between α, β and γ-radiations with respect to their nature, speed,
rest mass and charge.

38. Radiations given out from a source when subjected to an electric field in a direction
perpendicular to their path are shown below in the diagram. The arrows show the path of the
radiation A, B and C. Answer the following questions in terms A, B and C.

(i) Name the radiation B which is unaffected by the electrostatic field.

(ii) Why does the radiation C deflect more than A?
(iii) Which among the three causes the least biological damage externally?
(iv) Name the radiation which is used in carbon dating.

39. (i) What happen to the atomic number of an element, when it emits
(a) an α-particle and (b) β-particle?
(ii) Explain, why α-and β-particle are deflected in an electric or a magnetic field but γ-rays are
not deflected in such a field?
40. (i) Represent the change in the nucleus of a radioactive element when a β-particle is
emitted from it.
(ii) What is the name given to elements with same mass number and different atomic numbers?
(iii) Under which conditions the nucleus of an atom tend to be radioactive?

41. A certain nucleus X has a mass number 14 and atomic number 6. The nucleus X changes
to 7Y14 after the loss of a particle.
(i) Name the particle emitted.
(ii) Represent this change in the form of an equation.
(iii) A radioactive substance is oxidized. What change would you expect to take place in the
nature of its radioactivity? Give a reason for your answer.

42. Briefly explain the term radiation hazards.

43. Write any four safety measures to be undertaken during establishment of nuclear power
plants.

Numericals

44. A radioactive nucleus undergoes a series of decays according to the sequence.

! # ɑ
X → X" → X $ → X &
If the mass number and atomic number of of X3 are 132 and 69 respectively, what is the mass
number and atomic number of X?

45. A nucleus '!%

$"𝑋 emits an alpha particle,
(a) what will be the atomic number of the daughter nucleus Y?
(b) what will be the number of neutrons in the daughter nucleus Y?
(c) write a nuclear reaction showing the emission of this particle.

46. One isotope of uranium has a mass number 235 and atomic number 92.
(i) What is the number of electrons in the neutral atom of this isotope?
(ii) What is the number of protons and number of neutrons in its nucleus?
(iii) Do all isotopes have the same number of neutrons?
(iv) What is the number of protons and neutrons in "#$!"𝑈?

47. The isotope of 92U238 decays by ɑ-emission to an isotope of thorium (Th). The thorium
isotopes decays by β-emission to an isotope of protactinium (Pa). Write down the equations to
represents these two nuclear charges

48. An element ΖSA decays to 85R222 after emitting to 2α-particles and 1β-particle. Find the
atomic number and atomic mass of the element S.

49. A nucleus 11Na24 emits a particle to magnesium (Mg). change into

(i) Write the symbolic equation for the process?
(ii) What are numbers 24 and 11 called?
(iii) What is the general name of "% "%
'"𝑀𝑔 with respect to ''𝑁𝑎 ?

50. Write nuclear reaction equations for

51. (i) α-decay of 8826Ra
52. (ii) α-decay of 94242Pu
53. (iii) β-decay of 1532P
54.
55. A certain nucleus P has a mass number 15 and atomic number 7.
(i) Find the number of neutrons.
(ii) Write the symbol for the nucleus P.
(iii) The nucleus P loses (a) one proton (b) one β-particle (c) one α-particle. Write the symbol
of the new nucleus in each case and express each charge by a reaction.

56. Complete the following nuclear changes

(i) 11Na24 →…Mg… + -1β0
(ii) 92U238 →90Th234 + …………. + Energy

57. Complete the following nuclear reactions

% & &
"#$
(i) !"𝑃 → 𝑄 → 𝑅 → 𝑆
% *+ "&
(ii) ('𝑋 → 𝑋) '( 𝑋" '( 𝑋#
58. In fusion of a nuclei, the loss in mass is 0.25 amu. Find the energy released.

Structured Questions

59. (i) (a) State the statement "nuclear force is a short range force."
(b) Write two industrial use of radioisotopes.
(ii) (a) Define nuclear fission.
(b) Rewrite and complete the following nuclear reaction by filling in the atomic number of Ba
and mass number of Kr.
"#( ' '%% ...... '
!"𝑈 + &𝑛 → ......𝐵𝑎 + #*𝐾𝑟 + 3 &𝑛 + 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
(iii) (a) Is it possible for a hydrogen nucleus to emit an alpha particle? Give a reason for your
answer.
(b) Why is a nuclear fusion reaction called a thermonuclear reaction? Complete the reaction.
3
He2 + 2H1 → 4He2 + …………… + Energy

60. (i) (a) When does the nucleus of an atom become radioactive?
(b) How is the radioactivity of an element affected, when it undergoes a chemical change to
form a chemical compound?
(c) Mention one use and one harmful effect of radioactivity.
(ii) (a) Differentiate between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.
(b) State one safety precaution in the disposal of nuclear waste.
(iii) An atomic nucleus A is composed of 84 protons and 128 neutrons. The nucleus A emits
an α-particle and is transformed into a nucleus B.
(a) What is the composition of B?
(b) The nucleus B emits a β-particle and is transformed into a nucleus C. What is the
composition of C?
(c) What is mass number of the nucleus A?
(d) Does the composition of C change, if it emits γ-radiations?