Nuclear Decay

You will need a periodic table in order to complete this activity.
Standard: Students will know the three most common types of decay (alpha, beta and gamma) and how the nucleus changes in each type.

Choose the correct answer for each question.

Alpha decay is generally represented by the symbol _________ on the product side of the equation.
1. ⁴₂He
2. ⁰_-1He
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ⁰₀g
Beta decay is generally represented by the symbol _________ on the product side of the equation.
1. ⁴₂He
2. ⁰_-1He
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ⁰₀g
Gamma decay is generally represented by the symbol _________ on the product side of the equation.
1. ⁴₂He
2. ⁰_-1He
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ⁰₀g
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁹₉₃Np → ²³⁹₉₄Pu + _____
1. ¹₀n
2. ⁰₁e
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ¹₁H
What type of decay is taking place in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²³⁹₉₃Np → ²³⁹₉₄Pu + ⁰_-1e
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

²³⁹₉₃Np → ²³⁹₉₄Pu + ⁰_-1e
1. a proton has been converted to an electron
2. a proton has been converted to a neutron
3. a neutron has been converted to an electron
4. a neutron has been converted to a proton
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

¹₀n + ²³⁵₉₂U → 2 ¹₀n + _____ + ¹³⁷₅₂Te + ⁰₀g
1. ⁴₂He
2. ⁹⁷₃₈Sr
3. ⁹⁶₄₀Zr
4. ⁹⁷₄₀Zr
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

¹₀n + ²³⁵₉₂U → 2 ¹₀n + ⁹⁷₄₀Zr + ¹³⁷₅₂Te + ⁰₀g
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

¹₀n + ²³⁵₉₂U → 2 ¹₀n +⁹⁷₄₀Zr + ¹³⁷₅₂Te + ⁰₀g
1. uranium is undergoing nuclear fission
2. uranium is converted to neutrons and energy
3. uranium has been converted to zirconium
4. zirconium has been converted to neutrons
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁹₉₂U + ⁴₂He → _____ + ¹₀n
1. ²⁴²₉₄Pu
2. ²⁴³₉₄Pu
3. ²⁴³₉₂U
4. ²⁴¹₉₂U
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²³⁹₉₂U + ⁴₂He → ²⁴²₉₄Pu + ¹₀n
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

²³⁹₉₂U + ⁴₂He → ²⁴²₉₄Pu + ¹₀n
1. uranium is being converted to plutonium
2. helium is being converted to neutrons
3. helium is being converted to plutonium
4. nuclear fission is taking place
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²⁷₁₃Al + _____ → ²⁴₁₁Na + ⁴₂He
1. ¹₀n
2. ¹₀H
3. ⁰_-1e
4. ²⁸₁₃Al
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²⁷₁₃Al + ¹₀n → ²⁴₁₁Na + ⁴₂He
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

²⁷₁₃Al + ¹₀n → ²⁴₁₁Na + ⁴₂He
1. aluminum decays into sodium
2. a neutron becomes an alpha particle
3. aluminum decays into a neutron
4. aluminum produces a beta particle
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁹₄Be + ¹₁H → _____ + ⁴₂He
1. ⁶₃Li
2. ¹⁴₇N
3. ⁵₂He
4. ⁴₁H
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

⁹₄Be + ¹₁H → ⁶₃Li + ⁴₂He
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

_____ → ⁴₂He + ²⁰⁸₈₁Tl + ⁰₀g
1. ²¹²₈₃Bi
2. ²⁰⁴₇₉Au
3. ²⁰⁴₈₃Bi
4. ²¹²₇₉Au
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²¹²₈₃Bi → ⁴₂He + ²⁰⁸₈₁Tl + ⁰₀g
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

²¹²₈₃Bi → ⁴₂He + ²⁰⁸₈₁Tl + ⁰₀g
1. bismuth is converted to thallium
2. bismuth is converted to thulium
3. bismuth is converted to helium
4. helium produces thallium
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

¹⁴₆C → ⁰_-1e + _____
1. ¹⁴₇N
2. ¹⁴₅B
3. ¹⁴₆C
4. ¹⁵₇N
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

¹⁴₆C → ⁰_-1e + ¹⁴₇N
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

¹⁴₆C → ⁰_-1e + ¹⁴₇N
1. carbon-14 decays to become nitrogen-14
2. one isotope of carbon becomes another isotope of carbon
3. carbon turns into an electron
4. nitrogen decays to form an electron
Identify the missing coefficient in the following nuclear reaction:

²³⁵₉₂U + ¹₀n → ____¹₀n + ¹³⁹₅₃I + ⁹⁵₃₉Y + ⁰₀g
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²³⁵₉₂U + ¹₀n → 2 ¹₀n + ¹³⁹₅₃I + ⁹⁵₃₉Y + ⁰₀g
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

²³⁵₉₂U + ¹₀n → 2 ¹₀n + ¹³⁹₅₃I + ⁹⁵₃₉Y + ⁰₀g
1. uranium-235 is undergoing nuclear fission
2. uranium-235 is being converted to neutrons
3. neutrons are being converted to iodine and yttrium
4. one neutron equals two neutrons
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁶₃Li + ¹₀n → ⁰_-1e + ⁴₂He + _____
1. ³₂He
2. ²₁H
3. ¹¹₄Be
4. ¹¹₅B
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

⁶₃Li + ¹₀n → ⁰_-1e + ⁴₂He + _____
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁴²₁₉K → ⁰_-1e + _____
1. ⁴²₂₀Ca
2. ⁴²₁₈Ar
3. ⁴¹₁₉K
4. ⁴¹₂₀Ca
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

⁴²₁₉K → ⁰_-1e + ⁴²₂₀Ca
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Which of the following statements best describes the changes occuring in the reaction below?

⁴²₁₉K → ⁰_-1e + ⁴²₂₀Ca
1. when a proton is converted to a neutron, an atom of potassium-42 becomes an atom of calcium-42
2. when a neuton is converted to a proton, an atom of potassium-42 becomes an atom of calcium-42
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

²²⁶₈₈Ra → ⁴₂He + _____
1. ²²²₈₆Rn
2. ²³⁰₉₀Th
3. ²²²₉₀Th
4. ²³⁰₈₆Rn
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

²²⁶₈₈Ra → ⁴₂He + ²²²₈₆Rn
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these
Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction:

⁹⁹₄₃Tc → _____ + ⁰_-1e
1. ⁹⁹₄₄Ru
2. ⁹⁹₄₃Tc
3. ⁹⁹₄₂Mo
4. ⁹⁹₄₃Es
What type of decay is evident in the nuclear reaction shown below?

⁹⁹₄₃Tc → ⁹⁹₄₄Ru + ⁰_-1e
1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma
4. none of these

Nuclear Decay

You will need a periodic table in order to complete this activity.Standard: Students will know the three most common types of decay (alpha, beta and gamma) and how the nucleus changes in each type.

You will need a periodic table in order to complete this activity.
Standard: Students will know the three most common types of decay (alpha, beta and gamma) and how the nucleus changes in each type.