National 5 Chemistry

Unit 3

Nuclear Chemistry

Past Paper Type Questions

Nuclear Chemistry 1. Complete the following table:

2. label the 3 particles based on their power of penetration:

3. Name the 3 rays and put their symbols in the boxes on the right.

Particle Name Symbol Particle

Alpha

β

____________

—-

——————

_____________

—————

__________

___________

1

2 3

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) X +

b) X +

c) X +

9. Complete the following equations:

a)

b)

c)

10. Here is part of the radioactive decay sequence for Polonium-218:

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?

238

92 U 4

2 He

32

15 P -1

0 e

220

86 Rn 4

2 He

3

1 H 3

2 He

224

88 Ra

228

90 Th

60

27 Co 60

27 Co

218

84 Po 214

82 Pb 214

83 Bi 1 2

14. Tritium, 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?

17. 18.

19. 20.

3

1 H

21.

22.

23.

24.

25. 26.

27.

28.

29.

30. 31.

32.