MCAT Physical : Radioactive Decay
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Example Question #1 : Radioactive Decay
What is the product when 
Alpha decay is the loss of a helium atom from the original particle.
The number of protons is reduced by two, and the nuclear mass is reduced by four.
Example Question #1 : Radioactive Decay
Which type of nuclear decay is displayed below?
Positron emission
Alpha decay
Electron capture
Gamma decay
Beta decay
Positron emission
Positron emission is when the nucleus ejects a positron, or positive equivalent of an electron. It is also known as 
Beta decay is when the nucleus ejects a beta particle (electron).
Alpha decay is when the nucleus ejects an alpha particle (helium nucleus).
Electron capture is when the nucleus caputres an electron from the inner most shell. This process converts a proton to a neutron.
Finally, gamma decay is when an excited nucleus emits gamma rays. Gamma rays have no mass or charge.
Example Question #2 : Radioactive Decay
If an atom of potassium undergoes a positron emission, what will be the daughter nucleus?
An emission of a positron is also known to be 
To understand how the daughter nucleus was determined, create a positron emission reaction with potassium.
Example Question #3 : Radioactive Decay
Which of the following best describes the missing component in the reaction above?
An alpha particle
A hydrogen nucleus
A photon
An electron
A neutron
An electron
This is an example of beta decay because the atomic number increases (from 6 to 7). This means a neutron has decayed into a proton, which occurs by emitting an electron, 
Example Question #2 : Radioactive Decay
The half-life of a particular isotope of radium is 1600 years. If a sample of this isotope originally has a mass of 120g, how long would it take the mass of this isotope to decrease to 15g?
6400 years
3200 years
800 years
4800 years
1600 years
4800 years
First note that 15g is 1/8 of the original 120-gram mass, so all but 1/8 of these radium nuclei have decayed. By definition, ½ of the nuclei decay during one half-life. So the number of nuclei remaining after n half-lives is 
Example Question #4 : Radioactive Decay
Thorium, 
In alpha decay a helium nucleus, 
Example Question #7 : Radioactive Decay
If gold, 
When a nucleus ejects a beta particle, the element is undergoing beta decay. The ejection of a beta particle is equivalent to the ejection of an electron. When gold ejects an electron, 
Example Question #4 : Radioactive Decay
In the operation of nuclear reactors, engineers make use of substances known as neutron poisons. These are used to help store nuclear waste and slow nuclear reactions, but are also generated naturally in nuclear chain reactions as a by-product. This natural by-product can stop the desirable chain reaction present in a nuclear reactor used for power generation.
For example, in nuclear power plants, U-235 is used as a fuel. U-235 absorbs a neutron, and subsequently generates neutrons (which power the chain reaction) and Xe-135. Xe-135 is a well-known neutron poison, and thus can impact the continued chain reaction of a nuclear power plant if it becomes over abundant during power generation.
To help account for this, engineers have developed measurements to quantify the impact of Xe-135 on nuclear operations. For instance, the time during which there is an inability to start a reactor due to the buildup of Xe-135 is referred to as the precluded start-up time. Also, the amount of time that the reactor cannot override the effects of built up Xe-135 is called poison outage time. Perhaps the most important measure that engineers have developed is the neutron absorption capacity (σ), which is measured in units of barns and is a function of microscopic cross section. Xe-135 has a neutron absorption capacity of 2.00 * 106 barns, while another common poison, Sm-149, has a neutron absorption capacity of 74,500 barns.
Nuclear reactions, such as the one described above with uranium, emit energy in the form of radiation. A scientist is considering three different forms of radiation to generate power. Which of the following types of radiation is highest in energy?
Alpha radiation
Gamma radiation
Electron capture
Positron emission
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation
Gamma radiation is a highly energetic form of radiation, and is the type of radiation emitted when antimatter and matter annhilate each other upon contact.
Example Question #3 : Radioactive Decay
In the operation of nuclear reactors, engineers make use of substances known as neutron poisons. These are used to help store nuclear waste and slow nuclear reactions, but are also generated naturally in nuclear chain reactions as a by-product. This natural by-product can stop the desirable chain reaction present in a nuclear reactor used for power generation.
For example, in nuclear power plants, U-235 is used as a fuel. U-235 absorbs a neutron, and subsequently generates neutrons (which power the chain reaction) and Xe-135. Xe-135 is a well-known neutron poison, and thus can impact the continued chain reaction of a nuclear power plant if it becomes over abundant during power generation.
To help account for this, engineers have developed measurements to quantify the impact of Xe-135 on nuclear operations. For instance, the time during which there is an inability to start a reactor due to the buildup of Xe-135 is referred to as the precluded start-up time. Also, the amount of time that the reactor cannot override the effects of built up Xe-135 is called poison outage time. Perhaps the most important measure that engineers have developed is the neutron absorption capacity (σ), which is measured in units of barns and is a function of microscopic cross section. Xe-135 has a neutron absorption capacity of 2.00 * 106 barns, while another common poison, Sm-149, has a neutron absorption capacity of 74,500 barns.
Xe-135 has a half life of around 9.2 hours. A reaction generated 70g of Xe-135, as measured by a scientist on a Friday afternoon. If he returned 46 hours later to study the sample, how much would remain?
14g
4g
2g
3g
70g
2g
The scientist allowed the substance to sit for a duration that was equal to five of its half life. The original sample decayed from 70g, to 35g, to 17.5g, to 8.75g, to 4.35g, to ~2 g.
n is equal to the number of half lives that have passed. For us, n is equal to 5.
Example Question #4 : Radioactive Decay
In the operation of nuclear reactors, engineers make use of substances known as neutron poisons. These are used to help store nuclear waste and slow nuclear reactions, but are also generated naturally in nuclear chain reactions as a by-product. This natural by-product can stop the desirable chain reaction present in a nuclear reactor used for power generation.
For example, in nuclear power plants, U-235 is used as a fuel. U-235 absorbs a neutron, and subsequently generates neutrons (which power the chain reaction) and Xe-135. Xe-135 is a well-known neutron poison, and thus can impact the continued chain reaction of a nuclear power plant if it becomes over abundant during power generation.
To help account for this, engineers have developed measurements to quantify the impact of Xe-135 on nuclear operations. For instance, the time during which there is an inability to start a reactor due to the buildup of Xe-135 is referred to as the precluded start-up time. Also, the amount of time that the reactor cannot override the effects of built up Xe-135 is called poison outage time. Perhaps the most important measure that engineers have developed is the neutron absorption capacity (σ), which is measured in units of barns and is a function of microscopic cross section. Xe-135 has a neutron absorption capacity of 2.00 * 106 barns, while another common poison, Sm-149, has a neutron absorption capacity of 74,500 barns.
A scientist is studying a nuclear reaction similar to the one described in the passage. He realizes that the product atom has a mass number four less than the reactant, and an atomic number two less than the reactant. What is true of this type of radiation?
It results in the emission of a helium nucleus, a type of ionizing radiation
It results in the emission of either a helium nucleus or a heavy hydrogen nucleus, depending on conditions
It results in the emission of a heavy hydrogen nucleus, a type of ionizing radiation
It results in the emission of a helium nucleus, which is strictly a type of non-ionizing radiation
It results in the emission of a heavy hydrogen nucleus, which is strictly a type of non-ionizing radiation
It results in the emission of a helium nucleus, a type of ionizing radiation
This is an example of alpha radiation, which is the emission of a helium nucleus, 
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