CART Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity 2

Question 1

Which conservation law requires that the mass numbers balance in a nuclear equation?

Accepted Answer

Conservation of mass number and atomic number

Answer

In nuclear equations, both the total mass number (nucleons) and total atomic number (charge) must be equal on both sides of the equation.

Question 2

Nuclear fission is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A heavy nucleus splitting into two smaller nuclei

Answer

Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a heavy nucleus (like uranium-235) into two smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

Question 3

Carbon-14 radioactive dating is useful for determining:

Accepted Answer

The age of organic (carbon-containing) materials up to ~50,000 years old

Answer

Carbon-14 (half-life ~5,730 years) is incorporated into living organisms; after death the C-14 decays, allowing age estimation up to about 50,000 years.

Question 4

Gamma radiation differs from alpha and beta radiation in that gamma radiation:

Accepted Answer

Is electromagnetic radiation with no mass or charge

Answer

Gamma rays are high-frequency electromagnetic waves (photons) with no rest mass and no electric charge, unlike alpha (+2) and beta (−1) particles.

Question 5

In beta-minus decay, a neutron is converted inside the nucleus into:

Accepted Answer

A proton and an emitted electron (beta particle)

Answer

Beta-minus decay: n → p + e⁻ + antineutrino; the proton stays in the nucleus and the electron (beta particle) is emitted.

CART - Chemistry Acceleration Readiness Test Practice Test

CART - Chemistry Acceleration Readiness Test Practice Test

CART Nuclear Chemistry and Radioactivity 2