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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Think You Know Radioactivity? Try the Chapter 7 Quiz!

Challenge Yourself with a Nuclear Chemistry Quiz - Ace the Radioactivity Test!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration atom model, radiation symbol, test tube on coral background for Chapter 7 radioactivity quiz

Ready to challenge yourself with our Chapter 7 radioactivity quiz? This free radioactivity quiz and nuclear chemistry quiz are crafted for chemistry students and science enthusiasts eager to test their knowledge of topics - from calculating half-lives and identifying radiation types to exploring decay series. Think you've mastered these concepts or want to uncover gaps? Dive into our nuclear physics quiz for extra practice and revisit key ideas with a chapter 7 chemistry test to sharpen your skills. Take this radioactivity test now to prove your expertise in radioactivity trivia and boost your confidence - let's get started!

What phenomenon describes the spontaneous emission of particles from an unstable atomic nucleus?
Radioisotope production
Radioactivity
Fission
Ionization
Radioactivity refers to the spontaneous emission of particles or radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom due to nuclear decay processes Chem LibreTexts. This is distinct from ionization, which involves removal of electrons rather than nuclear change. Radioisotope production is a process to create unstable nuclei but not the phenomenon itself. Fission is a type of nuclear reaction where a nucleus splits, which may be spontaneous or induced but is not the general term for emission of particles.
Which type of radiation is most penetrating?
Neutron radiation
Alpha radiation
Gamma radiation
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation consists of high-energy photons with no mass or charge, making it the most penetrating form of common radioactive emissions Khan Academy. Alpha particles are heavy and carry +2 charge, easily stopped by paper. Beta particles are lighter electrons or positrons, stopped by a few millimeters of metal. Neutron radiation can be penetrating but is not classified as alpha, beta, or gamma.
An alpha particle is equivalent to which of the following?
A positron
A proton
A helium nucleus (2 protons, 2 neutrons)
A neutron
An alpha particle is exactly the same as a helium-4 nucleus, containing two protons and two neutrons, and carrying a +2 charge Chem LibreTexts. Positrons are beta-plus particles with a +1 charge and no neutrons. Neutrons are neutral and lack the protons present in an alpha particle. Protons carry a +1 charge and do not include neutrons.
In beta-minus decay, which particle is emitted from the nucleus?
Alpha particle
Electron
Positron
Neutron
Beta-minus decay occurs when a neutron in the nucleus transforms into a proton and emits an electron (beta particle) along with an antineutrino Chem LibreTexts. A positron is emitted in beta-plus decay, not beta-minus. Neutrons and alpha particles are not the emitted particles in this process. The emitted electron carries away negative charge to balance the nuclear change.
What is the definition of the half-life of a radioactive isotope?
The time required for all radioactive nuclei to decay
The time required for the activity to double
The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay
The time required to reach nuclear stability
Half-life is defined as the time it takes for half of the unstable nuclei in a radioactive sample to undergo decay, reducing the sample's activity by 50% Khan Academy. It is not the time for complete decay or doubling of activity. Nuclear stability may be approached but is not the definition of half-life.
Which instrument is commonly used to detect and measure ionizing radiation?
Voltmeter
pH meter
Geiger-Müller counter
Spectrophotometer
A Geiger-Müller counter detects ionizing radiation by measuring the electrical pulses created when radiation ionizes gas in a sealed tube, producing a click or count Chem LibreTexts. Voltmeters measure voltage, pH meters measure acidity, and spectrophotometers measure light absorbance, none of which detect radiation directly.
What is the SI unit for measuring radioactivity (activity)?
Gray (Gy)
Sievert (Sv)
Becquerel (Bq)
Coulomb (C)
The becquerel (Bq) is the SI unit of radioactivity, defined as one disintegration per second Chem LibreTexts. The gray measures absorbed dose, the sievert measures biological effect, and the coulomb measures electrical charge.
A 80 g radioactive sample has a half-life of 4 hours. How much of the sample remains after 12 hours?
40 g
20 g
10 g
5 g
After 12 hours, three half-lives have passed (12 ÷ 4 = 3), so the remaining mass is 80 g × (1/2)^3 = 10 g Khan Academy. Each half-life reduces the sample by 50%.
A radioactive isotope decreases to 25% of its original activity in 6 days. What is its half-life?
4 days
2 days
3 days
6 days
A reduction to 25% corresponds to two half-lives (1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4). Since this occurs in 6 days, one half-life is 6 ÷ 2 = 3 days Khan Academy.
Which particle is emitted alongside a beta-minus particle to conserve energy and momentum?
Alpha particle
Positron
Neutrino
Proton
In beta-minus decay, a neutron converts to a proton, emits an electron (beta particle), and an antineutrino is released to satisfy conservation of energy and momentum Chem LibreTexts. Protons, alpha particles, and positrons are not emitted in beta-minus decay.
In a magnetic field, which emitted radiation is deflected toward the positively charged plate?
Neutron radiation
Alpha radiation
Beta-minus radiation
Gamma radiation
Beta-minus particles are electrons with a negative charge and are deflected toward the positive plate in a magnetic field Chem LibreTexts. Alpha particles are positively charged and deflected toward the negative plate, gamma rays have no charge and are undeflected, and neutrons carry no charge.
Which decay process does not change the atomic or mass number of the nucleus?
Electron capture
Gamma decay
Alpha decay
Beta decay
Gamma decay involves the emission of a photon without changing the number of protons or neutrons, so the atomic and mass numbers remain the same Chem LibreTexts. Alpha and beta decays change the composition of the nucleus, and electron capture also alters the proton - neutron ratio.
Which source of radiation is not considered part of natural background radiation?
Cosmic rays
Medical X-rays
Soil radioactivity
Radon gas
Medical X-rays are an artificial source of radiation used for diagnostic imaging and are not part of natural background radiation Chem LibreTexts. Cosmic rays, radon gas, and naturally occurring soil radionuclides contribute to background radiation.
Which of these equations correctly represents the alpha decay of uranium-238?
Uranium-238 ? Neptunium-239 + electron
Uranium-238 ? Protactinium-234 + Helium-4
Uranium-238 ? Thorium-234 + Helium-4
Uranium-238 ? Thorium-237 + neutron
Alpha decay reduces the mass number by 4 and atomic number by 2, so 238U ? 234Th + 4He is correct Chem LibreTexts. The other options do not balance both mass and atomic numbers correctly for alpha emission.
What is the daughter nuclide when thorium-232 undergoes alpha decay?
Radium-228
Radium-230
Radon-228
Thorium-228
Alpha decay reduces the mass number by 4 (232 ? 228) and the atomic number by 2 (90 ? 88), producing radium-228 Chem LibreTexts. Thorium-228 and radon-228 have incorrect proton numbers, and radium-230 has the wrong mass number.
Calculate the remaining activity of a 500 Bq sample after 10 years if its half-life is 5 years.
62.5 Bq
250 Bq
375 Bq
125 Bq
After 10 years, two half-lives have passed (10 ÷ 5 = 2). Remaining activity = 500 Bq × (1/2)^2 = 125 Bq Khan Academy.
What term describes the sequence of radioactive decays from a parent isotope to a stable daughter?
Fusion series
Decay series
Reaction series
Activation series
A decay series (or decay chain) is the series of successive decays starting from an unstable parent until a stable daughter is reached Chem LibreTexts. Fusion, activation, and reaction series are not correct terms for this process.
Which radioactive decay increases the atomic number by one without changing the mass number?
Beta-minus decay
Alpha decay
Gamma decay
Positron emission
In beta-minus decay, a neutron becomes a proton and emits an electron, raising the atomic number by one while the mass number stays the same Chem LibreTexts. Alpha and positron emissions change both numbers, and gamma decay changes neither.
For which of the following nuclei is the binding energy per nucleon highest?
Iron-56
Deuterium-2
Uranium-238
Lead-208
Iron-56 has one of the highest binding energies per nucleon, making it one of the most stable nuclei Binding Energy per Nucleon. Heavy nuclei like uranium have lower average binding energy per nucleon, and light nuclei like deuterium are also lower.
What is the mass defect in nuclear physics?
The difference between the mass of separated nucleons and the actual mass of the nucleus
The mass of electrons around the nucleus
The mass lost as radiation
The mass difference between isotopes
Mass defect is the difference between the summed masses of individual protons and neutrons and the actual mass of the nucleus, reflecting binding energy Chem LibreTexts. It is not related to electron mass, isotope mass differences, or radiation mass loss directly.
Which material is most effective for shielding against gamma radiation?
Lead
Wood
Paper
Aluminum
Gamma rays are highly penetrating, and dense, high-atomic-number materials like lead provide the best attenuation by absorbing photon energy NRC. Paper, aluminum, and wood are much less effective for gamma shielding.
What is the critical mass in the context of nuclear fission?
The mass at which a nucleus splits spontaneously
The minimum mass of fissile material required to sustain a chain reaction
The maximum mass of fissile material before explosion
The mass needed for an isotope to reach half-life
Critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed to maintain a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, where each fission event causes at least one more fission Critical Mass. The other options misstate the definition or context.
Which unit measures the biological effect of absorbed radiation, taking into account the type of radiation?
Sievert (Sv)
Gray (Gy)
Becquerel (Bq)
Curie (Ci)
The sievert accounts for both the absorbed dose (in grays) and the radiation weighting factor to reflect biological effectiveness Sievert. The gray measures physical energy absorbed, the becquerel measures activity, and the curie is a non-SI unit of activity.
A nitrogen-14 nucleus captures a neutron to become nitrogen-15. The mass of 14N is 14.003074 u, neutron is 1.008665 u, and 15N is 15.000108 u. What is the Q-value of this capture (use 1 u = 931.5 MeV)?
5.4 MeV
10.8 MeV
-10.8 MeV
0 MeV
The mass defect is (14.003074 + 1.008665 - 15.000108) = 0.011631 u. Multiplying by 931.5 MeV/u gives Q ? 10.83 MeV, so about 10.8 MeV is released Q Value.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Calculate Radioisotope Half-Lives -

    Apply exponential decay formulas to determine the half-life of various isotopes and solve related numerical problems.

  2. Differentiate Radiation Types -

    Identify and compare alpha, beta, and gamma radiation based on their properties, penetration power, and hazards.

  3. Interpret Decay Curves -

    Read and analyze radioactivity decay graphs to predict sample activity over time and understand decay kinetics.

  4. Write Nuclear Equations -

    Balance and formulate nuclear reaction equations to represent decay processes and transmutation events.

  5. Apply Nuclear Chemistry Concepts -

    Use scenarios from the Chapter 7 radioactivity quiz to connect theoretical principles with real-world atomic science applications.

  6. Evaluate Your Quiz Performance -

    Assess your results on the free radioactivity quiz to pinpoint strengths, address misconceptions, and guide further study.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Half-Life Fundamentals -

    Mastering half-life is crucial for any radioactivity quiz: it's the time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample to decay, following N = N₀(1/2)^(t/t₝/₂). Practice with examples like carbon-14 radiocarbon dating (t₝/₂ ≈5,730 years) to build confidence before your nuclear chemistry quiz. Refer to IAEA resources for decay equations and sample problems.

  2. Types of Radiation -

    Knowing alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) radiation properties is key to acing a radioactivity test: α particles are heavy and stopped by paper, β by plastic, and γ requires lead or concrete. A handy mnemonic is "Paper, Plastic, Lead" to recall shielding order, a tip often highlighted in NRC guidelines. This distinguishes their ionizing power on the radioactivity trivia section of your chapter 7 radioactivity quiz.

  3. Decay Series and Chains -

    Many heavy isotopes decay through a series of steps until reaching a stable end-product, like uranium-238 cascading to lead-206. Draw out the sequence and note each half-life to visualize the process - Khan Academy's diagrams are a great academic source. Recognizing common chains will boost your score on any nuclear chemistry quiz question about decay pathways.

  4. Activity and Units -

    Radioactive activity (A) equals λN, where λ is the decay constant; it's measured in becquerels (Bq) or curies (Ci), with 1 Ci=3.7×10¹❰ Bq per the U.S. NRC. Memorize this conversion to tackle calculation problems in your radioactivity quiz quickly. Practicing 5 - 10 problems from university chemistry departments will reinforce unit handling.

  5. Radiation Protection Principles -

    Learn the "ALARA" principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) for minimizing exposure time, maximizing distance, and using appropriate shielding. This concept, highlighted by the WHO and IAEA, often appears in radioactivity quizzes and tests on safety protocols. Understanding ALARA will ensure you answer both theoretical and practical safety questions confidently.

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