Nuclear Basics
Nuclear Equations
Half-Life
Fusion vs Fission
The Mole
Conversion Challenge
100

This number identifies an element because it tells how many protons are in its nucleus.

What is atomic number?

100

These two numbers must balance on both sides of a nuclear equation.

What are mass number and atomic number?

100

This term means the time required for half the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.

What is half-life?

100

In this nuclear process, a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei and releases energy.

What is nuclear fission?

100

This is the number of molecules in 1.00 mol of water.

What is 6.022 x 1023 molecules?

100

To convert grams of a compound into molecules, use these two conversion steps in order.

What are grams → moles → molecules?

What are molar mass & Avogadro's number?

200

This type of radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons.

What is an alpha particle?

200

When radium-226 emits an alpha particle, this daughter isotope forms.

What is radon-222?

200

An 80 g sample goes through three half-lives. This much remains.

What is 10 g?

200

In a nuclear power plant, fission heats water to produce steam. The steam spins this device, which drives a generator.

What is a turbine?

200

This is the molar mass of NaCl.

What is 58.44 g/mol?

200

How many bromine atoms are in 15.98 g of liquid bromine?

What is 1.204 x 1023 bromine atoms?

300

This type of radiation is the most penetrating form of radiation.

What is gamma radiation?

300

This nuclide is generally more stable than the parent nuclide.

What is the daughter nuclide?

300

A sample decreases from 100 g to 12.5 g. If its half-life is 4 hours, how much time has passed?

What is 12 hours?

300

These components absorb neutrons to control the rate of a fission chain reaction in a reactor.

What are control rods?

300

A 36.0 g sample of H₂O contains this many moles of H₂O.

What is 2.00 mol?

300

This is the number of oxygen atoms in 25.0 g of CaCO₃.

What is 4.51 x 1023 oxygen atoms?

400

Stable nuclei of many lighter elements have approximately this ratio of protons to neutrons.

What is 1:1?

400

Iodine-131 becomes xenon-131. Identify the emitted particle.

What is a beta particle (electron)?

400

A radioactive sample starts with 2.56 x 106 atoms. How many atoms have decayed after eight half-lives?

What is 2.55 x 106 atoms?

400

Complete this fusion equation:

What is He-4?

400

This is the mass of 0.750 mol of Ca(OH)₂.

What is 55.6 g?

400

A 13.5 g sample of an unknown element contains 3.01 x 1023 atoms. What is the element?

What is aluminum (Al)?

500

These two forces compete within a nucleus: one pulls nearby nucleons together, while the other pushes protons apart.

What are the strong nuclear force and electrostatic repulsion?

500

Uranium-238 undergoes two successive alpha decays. Identify the resulting isotope.

What is radium-230?

500

A sample begins with 14.0 g of carbon-14. Its half-life is 5,730 years. How many carbon-14 atoms remain after 11,460 years? Use 14.0 g C-14 = 1 mol C-14.

What is 1.51 x 1023 carbon-14 atoms?

500

Identify the missing daughter nuclide in this fission equation:

What is Kr-92?

500

This is the number of oxygen atoms in 0.250 mol of CO₂.

What is 3.011 x 1023 oxygen atoms?

500

A 26.2 g sample of iodine-131 has a half-life of 8.0 days. How many iodine-131 atoms remain after 24.0 days? Use a molar mass of 131 g/mol.

What is 1.51 x 1022 atoms?