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5.1 The nuclear model of the atom

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Question 7

Plutonium-239 (    94239Pu^{239}_{\;\;94}\text{Pu}94239​Pu) is a radioactive isotope of plutonium.

a.

Describe the composition and structure of a neutral atom of plutonium-239.

[3]
b.

Another isotope of plutonium is plutonium-242. Describe how an atom of plutonium-242 differs from an atom of plutonium-239.

[1]
c.

In a nuclear reactor, a nucleus of plutonium-239 absorbs a slow-moving neutron and then undergoes nuclear fission.

Three neutrons, a nucleus of tellurium-134 (    52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134​Te), and a nucleus of an element represented by E\text{E}E are produced.

Complete the equation for this fission reaction by specifying the nucleon number and proton number of E\text{E}E.

n+     94239Pu→     52134Te+ …………E+3n \text{n} + \,^{239}_{\;\;94}\text{Pu} \rightarrow \,^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te} + \,^{\dots\dots}_{\dots\dots}\text{E} + 3\text{n} n+94239​Pu→52134​Te+…………​E+3n
[3]
d.

Tellurium-134 (    52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134​Te) is radioactive. It decays by β−\beta^-β−-emission to isotope Q\text{Q}Q.

Determine: (i) the proton number of Q\text{Q}Q

[1]
e.

Tellurium-134 (    52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134​Te) is radioactive. It decays by β−\beta^-β−-emission to isotope Q\text{Q}Q.

Determine: (ii) the nucleon number of Q\text{Q}Q

[1]
Markscheme

5.1 The nuclear model of the atom Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /5.1 The nuclear model of the atom

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.

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