National 5 Chemistry
Unit 3
Nuclear Chemistry
Past Paper Type Questions
Nuclear Chemistry
1. Complete the following table:
Particle Name
Symbol
Particle
Alpha
β
2. label the 3 particles based on their power of penetration:
____________ 1
__________
2
3
___________
3. Name the 3 rays and put their symbols in the boxes on the right.
——————
_____________
—————
—-
4. Write an informative paragraph (approximately 100 words) about the 3 particles.
5. Explain the term half-life.
6. Explain the term isotope.
7. Explain how radioactive atom of Iodine-131 differs from stable atom of Iodine-127.
8. Write down the nucleotide symbol for X in the following:
a)
b)
c)
238
92
U
X
+
X
+
X
+
32
15P
220
86
Rn
4
2
-1
0
He
e
4
2
He
9. Complete the following equations:
a)
b)
c)
3
3
1H
2
224
228
Ra
88
60
27
He
90
Th
60
Co
27
Co
10. Here is part of the radioactive decay sequence for Polonium-218:
218
Po
84
1
214
Pb
82
2
214
83
Bi
What type of radiation is emitted during decay 1 and 2?
Rewrite the equation showing these.
11. An atom of Thorium-227 decays to produce Lead-211. How many alpha particles are
lost?
Try to write an equation to show the stages and the intermediate nucleotides.
12. A luminous aircraft dial containing Pm-147 (half-life 2.5 years) has only 1/8 of it’s
original ‘glow’. How old is the dial?
13. Carbon dating is based on Carbon-14; half-life 5,700 years. A prehistoric site is found
to contain charcoal remains with only 6.25% Carbon-14 compared to fresh wood
(100%). What is the approximate age of the site?
3
14. Tritium, 1 H half-life 12 years, is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can be used
to estimate the age of wine. At auction; a case of wine is for sale. It is claimed to be
from the late 1800s but, unfortunately, the labels are illegible. A sample of the wine
shows radioactivity of 4 counts per minute, compared to a recent bottle of 32 counts
per minute. Is the wine what it’s owner claims to be?
15. During photosynthesis; plants convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates
and oxygen gas. For a long time scientists wondered whether the oxygen gas came
from the oxygen atoms in the carbon dioxide or the water.
You are given a sample of water containing radioactive Oxygen-18. Explain how you
could use this to find out where the oxygen gas comes from.
Try to find out where it does come from.
16. Hydrocarbon fuels contain lots of carbon. However, carbon dating cannot be use to
estimate their age. Why is that?
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32.
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