Carbon-14 (14C^{14}\text{C}14C) and Carbon-12 (12C^{12}\text{C}12C) are isotopes of the element carbon.
(i) In terms of the particles in each, state how a nucleus of Carbon-14 differs from a nucleus of Carbon-12.
(ii) State a property of these isotopes that causes them to behave chemically as the same element.
Alpha (α\alphaα) particles are significantly more ionizing than beta (β\betaβ) particles as they travel through a gas. Suggest two reasons why α\alphaα-particles have a higher ionizing power than β\betaβ-particles.
In a historic experiment, a beam of α\alphaα-particles was directed at a very thin gold foil in a vacuum.
State what is shown about the structure of atoms by each of the following observations:
(i) The vast majority of the α\alphaα-particles passed straight through the foil with virtually no deflection.
In a historic experiment, a beam of α\alphaα-particles was directed at a very thin gold foil in a vacuum.
State what is shown about the structure of atoms by each of the following observations:
(ii) A tiny fraction of the α\alphaα-particles were deflected through very large angles (greater than 90∘90^\circ90∘).
114 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.1.1a Structure of the atom and ions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.