Nuclear Chemistry Flashcards

Flashcards based on Chapter 4 Practice Test Study Guide covering nuclear chemistry, atomic discoveries, and atomic structure.

What is the nuclear equation for the alpha decay of Thorium-230?

²³⁰Th -> ⁴He + ²²⁶₈₈Ra

What is the nuclear equation for the beta decay of Tantalum-181?

¹⁸¹Ta -> ⁰₋₁e + ¹⁸¹W

List the three major types of radiation emitted by atoms, including characteristics and symbols.

Alpha (α): Helium nucleus, low penetration, +2 charge; Beta (β): Electron, moderate penetration, -1 charge; Gamma (γ): High-energy photon, high penetration, no charge

What did the Cathode Ray Tube experiment help discover?

Discovery of the electron

Describe Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment, including conclusions about atomic structure.

Alpha particles directed at gold foil; most passed through, some deflected, and a few bounced back. Conclusions: Atom is mostly empty space with a small, dense, positively charged nucleus.

Who discovered the neutron, and how did this refine the atomic model?

James Chadwick; it refined the model by including a neutral particle in the nucleus, accounting for the mass discrepancy.

How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in Neptunium-237 and Indium-125?

Neptunium-237: 93 protons, 144 neutrons, 93 electrons; Indium-125: 49 protons, 76 neutrons, 49 electrons.

What is the most common isotope of Cobalt and Platinum?

Cobalt-59; Platinum-195

Define neutral atom and atomic number (and who discovered it)

Neutral atom: An atom with an equal number of protons and electrons; Atomic number: The number of protons in an atom (discovered by Henry Moseley).

Define mass number and atomic mass (and how it differs from mass number)

Mass number: The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus; Atomic mass: The weighted average of the masses of all isotopes of an element, considering their relative abundance. Mass number is a whole number, while atomic mass is a decimal.

Who is credited with the first idea of the atom as an indivisible particle?

Democritus

Which scientist proposed the Plum Pudding Model of the Atom?

J.J. Thomson

What did Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment determine?

The charge of the electron

Which subatomic particle has no charge and is located in the nucleus?

Neutron

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons