Plutonium-239 (94239Pu^{239}_{94}\text{Pu}94239Pu) is a radioactive isotope of plutonium that can be used in nuclear reactors.
Describe the composition and structure of a neutral atom of plutonium-239.
Another isotope of plutonium is plutonium-242. Describe how an atom of plutonium-242 differs from an atom of plutonium-239.
In a nuclear reactor, a nucleus of plutonium-239 absorbs a slow-moving neutron and then undergoes nuclear fission.
Three neutrons, a nucleus of barium-141 (56141Ba^{141}_{56}\text{Ba}56141Ba), and a nucleus of an element represented by Y\text{Y}Y are produced.
Complete the equation for this fission reaction.
n+ 94239Pu⟶ 56141Ba+……Y+3n \text{n} + \,^{239}_{94}\text{Pu} \longrightarrow \,^{141}_{56}\text{Ba} + \dots\dots\text{Y} + 3\text{n} n+94239Pu⟶56141Ba+……Y+3nBarium-141 (56141Ba^{141}_{56}\text{Ba}56141Ba) is radioactive. It decays by β−\beta^-β−-emission to isotope R\text{R}R.
Determine:
the proton number of R\text{R}R
the nucleon number of R\text{R}R
284 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.1 The nuclear model of the atom, covering 5.1.1a Structure of the atom and ions, 5.1.1b Alpha-particle scattering, 5.1.2a Composition of the nucleus and isotopes, 5.1.2b Proton number, nucleon number and nuclide notation, and 5.1.2c Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.