Chapter 31: Q4 CQ (page 1147)
What characteristics of radioactivity show it to be nuclear in origin and not atomic?
Short Answer
Radioactivity is not affected by any chemical or physical property. So it’s practical origin in nuclear not atomic
/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}
Learning Materials
Features
Discover
Chapter 31: Q4 CQ (page 1147)
What characteristics of radioactivity show it to be nuclear in origin and not atomic?
Radioactivity is not affected by any chemical or physical property. So it’s practical origin in nuclear not atomic
All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.
Get started for free
a) Natural potassium contains \({}^{{\rm{40}}}{\rm{K}}\), which has a half-life of \(1.277 \times {10^9}\,{\rm{y}}\). What mass of \({}^{{\rm{40}}}{\rm{K}}\) in a person would have a decay rate of \(4140\,{\rm{Bq}}\)? (b) What is the fraction of \({}^{{\rm{40}}}{\rm{K}}\) in natural potassium, given that the person has \({\rm{140g}}\) in his body? (These numbers are typical for a \({\rm{70}}\)-kg adult.)
Radioactivity depends on the nucleus and not the atom or its chemical state. Why, then, is one kilogram of uranium more radioactive than one kilogram of uranium hexafluoride?
The Galileo space probe was launched on its long journey past several planets in 1989, with an ultimate goal of Jupiter. Its power source is\(11.0{\rm{\;}}\,{\rm{kg}}\)of \(^{{\rm{238}}}{\rm{Pu}}\), a by-product of nuclear weapons plutonium production. Electrical energy is generated thermoelectrically from the heat produced when the\({\rm{5}}{\rm{.59}}\,{\rm{MeV\alpha }}\)particles emitted in each decay crash to a halt inside the plutonium and its shielding. The half-life of\(^{{\rm{238}}}{\rm{Pu}}\)is\(87.7\)years.
Arrange the following according to their ability to act as radiation shields, with the best first and worst last. Explain your ordering in terms of how radiation loses its energy in matter.
(a) A solid material with low density composed of low-mass atoms.
(b) A gas composed of high-mass atoms.
(c) A gas composed of low-mass atoms.
(d) A solid with high density composed of high-mass atoms.
(a) Calculate the activity \({\rm{R}}\) in curies of \(1.00\,{\rm{g}}\) of \({}^{{\rm{226}}}{\rm{Ra}}\). (b) Discuss why your answer is not exactly \(1.00\,{\rm{Ci}}\), given that the curie was originally supposed to be exactly the activity of a gram of radium.
What do you think about this solution?
We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.