Plutonium-239 ( 94239Pu^{239}_{\;\;94}\text{Pu}94239Pu) is a radioactive isotope of plutonium.
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 tellurium-134 ( 52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134Te), 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+94239Pu→52134Te+…………E+3nTellurium-134 ( 52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134Te) 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
Tellurium-134 ( 52134Te^{134}_{\;\;52}\text{Te}52134Te) 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
170 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.1.2a Composition of the nucleus and isotopes. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.