Chemistry - Chapter 9

From a historical perspective, which of the following sequences describes the study of fission? a. discovery of fission, discovery of radiation, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy b. discovery of radiation, discovery of fission, nuclear energy, nuclear weapons c. discovery of radiation, discovery of fission, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy d. nuclear energy, discovery of radiation, discovery of fission, nuclear weapons e. nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, discovery of radiation, discovery of fission

discovery of radiation, discovery of fission, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy

Changes in the mass defect for uranium compared to its fission products are _________ . a. extremely large and release large amounts of energy b. extremely large and release small amounts of energy c. extremely small and release large amounts of energy d. extremely small and release small amounts of energy e. Both a & b.

extremely small and release large amounts of energy

The high energy discharge during fission is only one issue with nuclear weapons. What is the term for the airborne radioactive particles and lingering contamination from a nuclear explosion that are also of concern? a. enrichment b. diffusion c. critical mass d. fallout e. None of the above.

fallout

Which of the following is the best ranking of types of radiation from highest penetrating power to lowest: a. alpha radiation > beta radiation > gamma radiation b. gamma radiation > beta radiation > alpha radiation c. beta radiation > gamma radiation > alpha radiation d. alpha radiation > gamma radiation > beta radiation e. None of the above

gamma radiation > beta radiation > alpha radiation

What feature of nuclear fission is harnessed in a nuclear reactor to produce energy? a. high energy neutrons are used to make electricity b. barium formed is captured to make electricity c. the critical mass produces light which can be converted into electricity d. heat from the pile can be converted into electricity e. None of the above.

heat from the pile can be converted into electricity

What feature allows isotopes to be separated during isotopic enrichment? a. mass b. reactivity c. fission d. radioactivity e. mass defect

mass

The mass defect is due to _________. a. particles being ejected from the nucleus b. mass being converted to energy to bind the nucleus together c. light interacting with the nucleus to create new mass d. the binding energy within the nucleus being converted in new mass e. None of the above.

mass being converted to energy to bind the nucleus together

Which of the following statements can best describes the following type of radiation? gamma radiation a. massless light energy that has a very high energy b. a fast moving, lightweight, negatively charged particle c. a slow moving, but energetic, relatively massive positively charged particle d. All of the above e. None of the above

massless light energy that has a very high energy

Nausea and fatigue would be the likely result of _________ ? a. radiation exposures of approximately 600 mrem b. radiation exposures of approximately 6 rem c. radiation exposures of approximately 60 rem d. radiation exposures of approximately 600 rem e. radiation exposures of greater than 600 rem

radiation exposures of approximately 60 rem

Which country produces the most power from nuclear energy? a. France b. Russia c. the United States of America d. Japan e. Saudi Arabia

the United States of America

Which of the following would be a suitable definition of a half-life? a. the amount of time it takes half of the patients to die after an exposure to an amount of radiation b. half the amount of time it takes for a sample to completely lose its background radioactivity. c. half the amount of time it takes for an isotope to completely decay d. the amount of time it takes an isotope to decay to half its original amount e. the amount of time it takes until half of the penetrating power is gone from the sample.

the amount of time it takes an isotope to decay to half its original amount

What is the purpose of the control rods in a nuclear pile? a. to control the rate of radioactive decay b. to slow neutrons to make them more likely to start fission c. to allow the nuclear energy to be converted into electrical energy d. to absorb neutrons and keep fission from happening e. None of the above.

to absorb neutrons and keep fission from happening

What is the purpose of the carbon rods in a nuclear pile? a. to control the rate of radioactive decay b. to slow neutrons to make them more likely to start fission c. to allow the nuclear energy to be converted into electrical energy d. to absorb neutrons and keep fission from happening e. None of the above.

to slow neutrons to make them more likely to start fission

How many nuclear weapons have been used on populated enemy targets during wartimes? a. 1 b. 2 c. 8 d. 14 e. None of the above.

2

For the United States of America, what proportion of electricity is produced from nuclear energy? a. 5% b. 10% c. 15% d. 20% e. 75%

20%

What is the approximate amount of exposure to radiation for a person living in the United States that is thought to be due to background radiation? a. 25% of the typical exposure b. 50% of the typical exposure c. 75% of the typical exposure d. 100% of the typical exposure e. None of the exposure is from background radiation.

50% of the typical exposure

Estimate the typical amount of exposure to radiation for a person living in the United States, per year? a. 200 microrem b. 200 millirem c. 600 microrem d. 600 millirem e. 0 microrem

600 millirem

A collection of isotopes that are all related by a step-wise number of radioactive transformations is called _________ . a. a transmutation series b. a decay series c. a radical transformation d. a rem background e. the background radiation

A decay series

Another name for the unstable nucleus that can undergo radioactive decomposition is ____________. a. an isotope b. a radioscope c. a nucleon d. a nuclide e. all of the above

A nuclide

Which of the following is a concern for opponents of nuclear power? a. Waste Storage b. Long lead time until new plants are constructed c. Safety d. Proliferation e. All of the above.

All of the above

Why do some environmentalists actually support the utilization of nuclear power? a. Other forms of power are far more destructive to the environment. b. Nuclear power reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. c. Nuclear power produces a lower 'footprint' on the land for the same amount of power produced than other fuel sources. d. All of the above. e. None of the above.

All of the above

With respect to the concept of the Conservation of Mass, which of the following statements accurately describes one of the major differences of nuclear chemistry from other forms of chemistry. a. Nuclear reactions can produce different elements than those you start with. b. The sum of the masses of the products might not equal the sum of the masses of the reactants. c. Some of the mass is converted into energy in some nuclear reactions. d. all of the above e. none of the above

All of the above

Which of the following is not a medical use for radioactive materials: a. radiotracers b. imaging c. emission tomography d. gamma knife therapy e. All of the above are medical uses

All of the above are medical uses

Which of the following types of radiation is best described by the condition below: High Ionizing power and low penetrating power a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. Only a and b

Alpha radiation

Which of the major types of radiation most closely resembles helium atoms? a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. None of the above

Alpha radiation

Which of the following types of radiation is best described by the condition below: Intermediate penetrating power and intermediate ionizing power a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. Only a and b

Beta radiation

Which of the major types of radiation only consists of a single subatomic particle? a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. None of the above

Beta radiation

The commercial nuclear accident that produced the largest amount of contamination in the area was the incident at _____________ . a. Fukushima b. Three-Mile Island c. Chernobyl d. Springfield Nuclear Power Plant e. None of the above

Chernobyl

Which early chemist classified the different types of radiation? a. Marie Curie b. Pierre Curie c. Antoine Becquerel d. Ernest Rutherford e. Paul Villard

Ernest Rutherford

From a nuclear fission standpoint, which of the following best describes a chain reaction? a. Fission of one nucleus releases neutrons which induce fission in another nucleus. b. Chains of atoms undergo fission one after another in a rapid sequence and release large amounts of energy. c. Radioactive material reaches a critical mass and then releases large amounts of radiation at once. d. Small lighter elements combine together in a chain to form single heavier nuclei. e. None of the above.

Fission of one nucleus releases neutrons which induce fission in another nucleus.

Which country produces the greatest proportion of its power used from nuclear energy? a. France b. Russia c. the United States of America d. Japan e. Saudi Arabia

France

What is thought to be the primary method of damage caused by acute radiation exposure? a. Free radicals and ions damage enzymes and DNA. b. Heating of cell liquids from the streaming of radioactive particles. c. Radioisotopes become lodged in cell tissues, causing them to degrade. d. The penetrating power of the radiation pushes cell membranes causing them to rupture. e. None of the above.

Free radicals and ions damage enzymes and dna.

Cosmic rays are a type of ionizing radiation that closely resemble ________ radiation? a. alpha b. beta c. gamma d. All of the above. e. None of the above.

Gamma

Which of the following types of radiation is best described by the condition below: High penetrating power and low Ionizing power a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. Only a and b

Gamma radiation

Which of the major types of radiation almost always takes place in conjunction with another radioactive decay? a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. Only a and b

Gamma radiation

Which of the major types of radiation most closely resembles X-rays? a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. None of the above

Gamma radiation

When considering the risks of radioactive materials, which two factors are most important to consider? a. Penetrating power and ions formed by isotopes b. Ions formed by isotopes and free radical formation c. Free radical formation and ionizing power d. Ionizing power and penetrating power e. None of the above.

Ionizing power and penetrating power

Why does a centrifuge allow for enhanced separation of isotopes? a. The spinning of the material causes the more radioactive material to collect at the edges. b. It acts as if there is an increase in gravity and the heavier isotopes are pulled more efficiently towards the edge of the centrifuge. c. It allows for the formation of a subcritical mass more easily. d. The lighter objects are able to move more rapidly in the spinning chamber, causing them to separate faster. e. None of the above.

It acts as if there is an increase in gravity and the heavier isotopes are pulled more efficiently towards the edge of the centrifuge.

You are given a small, solid pellet of a radioactive material that primarily acts as an alpha emitter. Which of the following protocols is the minimum safe handling procedure? a. It could be carried in your pocket. b. It should be encased in plastic or glass. c. It should be wrapped in thick lead d. There is no safe way to handle the material. e. Emitters pose no health risk to biological tissue.

It could be carried in your pocket

The beta particle is often written as having a negative atomic number. Which description best rationalizes why it is written this way? a. It has a negative charge. b. It effectively raises the atomic number of the element that releases it. c. It is a positron. d. It has an additional neutron e. It has an additional isotope that combines with the nucleus.

It effectively raises the atomic number of the element that releases it.

What is the effect of radioactive material and radiation when it impacts living matter that makes it so damaging? a. It generates ions by causing ejection of electrons. b. It makes other things radioactive as well. c. It transmute elements into new substances. d. It causes phosphorescence in simple salts that leads to light damage. e. All of the above.

It generates ions by causing ejection of electrons.

Under which of the conditions below do you expect an isotope to be radioactive? a. It is composed of elements with low atomic numbers. b. It has a relatively consistent neutron and proton ratio. c. It has a substantial density. d. It is formed from another radioactive isotope. e. It has an atomic number above Z = 84.

It has an atomic number above Z = 84

Which of the following best describes the technical challenge that prevents fusion from being utilized to produce energy? a. It is difficult to sustain and control the high temperatures need for fusion. b. The fuels that readily undergo fusion are rarer than uranium and need substantial amounts of enrichment. c. The byproducts of the nuclear reaction are extremely radioactive and have long half lives, making them difficult to dispose of. d. By mass, less energy is produced in fusion reactions than in fission reactions. e. None of the above

It is difficult to sustain and control the high temperatures need for fusion.

Fusion is often talked about as a potential new method for producing nuclear energy. How is fusion different than fission? a. It requires plutonium rather than uranium. b. It takes place at much lower temperatures c. It produces less radiation. d. It joins two nuclei rather than splitting one. e. None of the above

It joins two nuclei rather than splitting one.

What feature of certain isotopes of uranium makes it suitable for participating in a chain-reaction during fission? a. It has a high density. b. It releases more neutrons than it absorbs. c. It releases large amounts of energy easily. d. It releases its fission products at high speed. e. Both c & d.

It releases more neutrons than it absorbs.

You are given a small, solid pellet of a radioactive material that primarily acts as a beta emitter. Which of the following protocols is the minimum safe handling procedure? a. It could be carried in your pocket. b. It should be encased in plastic or glass. c. It should be wrapped in thick lead d. There is no safe way to handle the material. e. Emitters pose no health risk to biological tissue.

It should be encased in plastic or glass.

You are given a small, solid pellet of a radioactive material that primarily acts as a gamma emitter. Which of the following protocols is the minimum safe handling procedure? a. It could be carried in your pocket. b. It should be encased in plastic or glass. c. It should be wrapped in thick lead d. There is no safe way to handle the material. e. Emitters pose no health risk to biological tissue.

It should be wrapped in thick lead

Within the atom, it is the ___________ that typically gives rise to beta particles. a. mass b. electrons c. neutrons d. protons e. both c and d

Neutrons

What is the purpose of isotopic enrichment? a. to control the rate of radioactive decay b. to slow neutrons to make them more likely to start fission c. to allow the nuclear energy to be converted into electrical energy d. to absorb neutrons and keep fission from happening e. None of the above.

None of the above

Which of the following statements about radioactive elements is/are true: a. Only man-made elements are radioactive. b. Radioactive elements are not found in nature. c. Decay of a radioactive element will produces two non-radioactive elements. d. The elements above an atomic number of 84 are all man-made. e. None of the above are true.

None of the above

Fission can generally be described as which of the following? a. Two nuclei joining together to produce a heavier one. b. One heavy nuclei being split into several smaller ones c. High energy particles being ejected from unstable nuclei. d. A series of nuclear decays that release large number of particles. e. A neutron rich substance that absorbs other neutrons.

One heavy nuclei being split into several smaller one

Why does nuclear fuel need to be isotopically enriched? a. To lower the size of the critical mass required for fission. b. Only isotopically pure materials will undergo fission. c. To increase the energy output in a nuclear weapon. d. Only certain isotopes readily support fission. e. None of the above.

Only certain isotopes readily support fission.

What phenomenon was Antoine Becquerel studying that lead to the beginning of our understanding of radioactivity? a. fluorescence b. phosphorescence c. cathode rays d. transmutation e. None of the above.

Phosphorescence

Which of the following is a symptom of somatic damage from acute radiation? a. Reduced white blood cell counts. b. Half-life of patient. c. Growth and changes in skin color. d. All of the above. e.None of the above

Reduced white blood cell counts

What was Marie Curie's major contribution to the study of radiation? a. She discovered radiation sickness b. She discovered new ways of purifying uranium. c. She proposed that the elements change during radiation release. d. All of the above e. None of the above.

She proposed that the elements change during radiation release.

In nuclear chemistry, which of the following statements best describes energy changes observed: a. The energy released comes from breaking of chemical bonds. b. The energy is stored in the valence electrons of the isotope. c. Ionization of the atoms by radioactive particles is the source of energy. d. High energy particles are released from the nucleus, raising the total energy. e. Small changes in the mass of the nucleus result in release of large amounts of energy.

Small changes in the mass of the nucleus result in release of large amounts of energy.

Which of the following is NOT a feature of the half-life of an isotope? a. The amount of time it takes to convert a radioactive sample from 10.0 g to 5.0 g will be the same as that required to convert a sample from 4.0 g to 2.0 g. b. The half-life of each element is different. c. The half-life of different isotopes of the same element are all the same. d. Half-lives can range between microseconds and billions of years. e. The amount of an isotope left in a sample depends on the age of a sample.

The half-life of different isotopes of the same element are all the same.

Which of the following is NOT a potential issue with nuclear power? a. The nuclear plant could detonate into a nuclear fireball. b. Leaks of radioactive isotopes could potentially contaminate food and water. c. Nuclear waste from spent fuel needs to be stored for thousands of years. d. Power plant's safety systems can fail and lead to meltdowns of the core. e. None of the above are potential issues.

The nuclear plant could detonate into a nuclear fireball

What is a common feature of radioactive elements? a. the nucleus is unstable b. they have a relatively high atomic number c. the nucleus of has an odd number of protons d. the elements are generated via man-made nuclear reactions e. all of the above

The nucleus is unstable

The underlying cause of radioactivity can be described as the spontaneous change in ______________. a. an electron's energy level b. a bond between two elements c. the nucleus of an atom d. solar radiation e. None of the above.

The nucleus of an atom

What is the primary method for describing and comparing the amount of biological damage produced by exposure to radiation? a. the number of radioactive particles absorbed by the body b. the size of the radioactive sample c. the rem d. the amount of radiation that passes through the body e. None of the above.

The rem

In nuclear chemistry, which of the following statements best describes mass changes observed: a. The total mass of the nucleus is often less than the sum of its parts. b. The mass changes observed is due to the loss of particles from the nucleus. c. The total mass of all the nuclei and ejected subatomic particles will be the same for both the products and the reactants. d. The mass of the protons and neutrons changes during the nuclear reaction. e. None of the above.

The total mass of the nucleus is often less than the sum of its parts.

Predict which of the following isotopes has the best chance of being radioactive? a. Krypton-84 b. Thorium-232 c. Iron-56 d. Zirconium-92 e. All have an equal chance of being radioactive.

Thorium-232

The incident at _____________ was the first major commercial nuclear accident. a. Fukushima b. Three-Mile Island c. Chernobyl d. Springfield Nuclear Power Plant e. None of the above

Three-Mile Island

Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioisotope that is believed to contribute significantly to cancer deaths, even though its primary method of decay is alpha emission. Which of the following is hypothesized to be the cause of this extra sensitivity to the radiation from radon? a. It is a noble gas and therefore less reactive, lowering its half-life. b. It is much more highly concentrated in homes than in naturally occurring locations. c. It is the most common radioactive isotope found in nature and therefore is the most destructive overall. d. When it decays it leaves trace amounts of other radioactive material in the lungs. e. None of the above

When it decays it leaves trace amounts of other radioactive material in the lungs.

What is a meltdown? a. When the control rods get too hot and need to be cooled. b. When the nuclear reaction gets out of control and damages the core. c. When superheated steam is released from containment. d. When the core of a power plant ruptures and catches fire. e. None of the above.

When the nuclear reaction gets out of control and damages the core.

Besides typical radioactivity such as alpha, beta and gamma rays, what else is classified as ionizing radiation? a. UV-rays b. X-rays c. Infrared Radiation d. All of the above. e. None of the above.

X-rays

The amount of fissile material needed support a chain reaction is ________ . a. split into two or more fragments b. small due to exponential growth c. a naturally occurring isotope. d. a critical mass. e. None of the above.

a critical mass.

Which of the following statements can best describes the following type of radiation? beta radiation a. massless light energy that has a very high energy b. a fast moving, lightweight, negatively charged particle c. a slow moving, but energetic, relatively massive positively charged particle d. All of the above e. None of the above

a fast moving, lightweight, negatively charged particle

Most commercial spent nuclear fuel consists of ____________ . a. a mixture of fission products and Uranium-238 b. mostly Uranium-235 c. mostly Iodine-131 d. a mixture of vitrified waste products e. None of the above

a mixture of fission products and Uranium-238

Which of the following statements can best describes the following type of radiation? alpha radiation a. massless light energy that has a very high energy b. a fast moving, lightweight, negatively charged particle c. a slow moving, but energetic, relatively massive positively charged particle d. All of the above e. None of the above

a slow moving, but energetic, relatively massive positively charged particle

By comparing a samples isotope ratio it is possible to see that after 3000 years, the original radioisotope had decayed to 12% of its original value. Estimate the half life of that particular isotope. a. about 1000 years b. about 1500 years c. about 4500 years d. about 6000 years e. about 9000 years

about 1000 years

If you know an isotope has a half life of 47 days, which of the following best represent how long has the sample been decaying if approximately 10% of the original radioactive isotope is left? a. about 47 days b. about 4.7 days c. about 470 days d. about 150 days e. about 100 days

about 150 days

Iodine-131 has a half-life of 8.02 days, making it useful for treatment and medical diagnostics. Starting with a sample of 200. mg of Iodine-131, how much of the isotope would remain after 24 days? a. about 800. mg b. about 80.0 mg c. about 25. mg d. about 4.0 mg e. about 2.0 mg

about 25. mg

By comparing a sample's isotope ratio it is possible to see that after 6300 years, the original radioisotope had decayed to 25% of its original value. Estimate the half life of that particular isotope. a. about 3200 years b. about 6300 years c. about 12600 years d. about 9500 years e. about 2500 years

about 3200 years

Which of the major types of radiation results from an easily recognizable change in the nucleus? a. alpha radiation b. beta radiation c. gamma radiation d. All of the above e. Only a and b

alpha and beta radiation

If radioactive materials are so dangerous, why are alpha emitters like Americium-241 readily found in the home in such things as smoke detectors? a. radioactive materials only emit radiation when exposed to bright sunlight b. small amounts of a radioactive material are safe to be handled c. man made alpha emitters are much more easily handled than natural isotopes d. gaseous alpha emitters are the only dangerous ones e. alpha particles do not penetrate well and are absorbed by air or smoke.

alpha particles do not penetrate well and are absorbed by air or smoke

If taken internally, which of the following is the best ranking for the relative danger of types of radiation from highest cause for alarm to lowest? a. alpha radiation > beta radiation > gamma radiation b. gamma radiation > beta radiation > alpha radiation c. beta radiation > gamma radiation > alpha radiation d. alpha radiation > gamma radiation > beta radiation e. None of the above

alpha radiation > beta radiation > gamma radiation

Which of the following is the best ranking of types of radiation from highest ionizing power to lowest? a. alpha radiation > beta radiation > gamma radiation b. gamma radiation > beta radiation > alpha radiation c. beta radiation > gamma radiation > alpha radiation d. alpha radiation > gamma radiation > beta radiation e. None of the above

alpha radiation > beta radiation > gamma radiation

One of the signs that fission was taking place when Hahn and Strassmann were bombarding uranium with neutrons was _________. a. an increase in mass in the sample b. a drastic increase in the number of beta particles being emitted c. a higher percentage of nuclei that were 4 mass units lighter than the uranium d. a decrease in the total amount of neutrons being emitted by the sample e. an increase in elements in the sample that were much lighter than uranium

an increase in elements in the sample that were much lighter than uranium

Which common form of radiation is most similar to positron emission? a. alpha b. beta c. gamma d. all of the above e. none of the above

beta

Within the atom, it is the ___________ that typically gives rise to radioactivity. a. mass b. electrons c. neutrons d. protons e. both c and d

both c and d