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4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

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Question 4

Radium-226 (88226Ra^{226}_{88}\text{Ra}88226​Ra) is a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting alpha radiation.

a.

Complete the decay equation for Radium-226 by determining the missing mass number A A\,A and atomic number Z Z\,Z for Radon (Rn\text{Rn}Rn):

88226Ra→ZARn+24He ^{226}_{88}\text{Ra} \to ^{A}_{Z}\text{Rn} + ^{4}_{2}\text{He} 88226​Ra→ZA​Rn+24​He
[2]
b.

Explain why internal contamination of the human body with an alpha-emitting radioactive substance is extremely dangerous.

[3]
c.

A sample of this radioactive isotope was left for 40 days40\text{ days}40 days. After this time, it had a remaining mass of 1.25 × 10-5 g. The half-life of the isotope is 10 days10\text{ days}10 days. Calculate the initial mass of the sample.

[3]
Markscheme

4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

6 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation, covering 4.2.1 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation, 4.2.2 Nuclear equations, 4.2.3 Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay, and 4.2.4 Radioactive contamination. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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