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5.2.3a Radioactive decay

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Question 14
a.

State two differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

  1. ........................................................................................................................................

  2. ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
b.

Radioactive tracers emitting γ\gammaγ-rays can be used in medicine. A source of these γ\gammaγ-rays, iodine-123, has a half-life of 13 hours.

Explain why a radioactive tracer used in this way should not have a half-life much shorter or much longer than about 13 hours.

[2]
c.

Iodine-131 is another isotope of iodine, which decays by emitting a β\betaβ-particle to form xenon (Xe).

Complete the nuclide equation for this decay.

53131I→……Xe+……β {}^{131}_{53}\text{I} \rightarrow {}^{\dots}_{\dots}\text{Xe} + {}^{\dots}_{\dots}\beta 53131​I→……​Xe+……​β
[3]
d.

State another use of radioactive nuclides in medicine (other than as a tracer).

[1]
Markscheme

5.2.3a Radioactive decay Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /5.2.3a Radioactive decay

120 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.2.3a Radioactive decay. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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