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Question 19

Iodine-131 is a radioactive isotope that emits beta-minus particles.

The equation for this decay is

^{131}_{53}\text{I} \rightarrow ^{A}_{Z}\text{Xe} + ^{0}_{-1}\text{e}

(i) The atomic (proton) number for iodine-131 is

A 0
B 53
C 78
D 131

[1]

(ii) The mass (nucleon) number, $A$ , for $Xe\text{Xe}$ is

A -1
B 0
C 53
D 131

[1]

Iodine-131 is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Patients swallow a capsule containing the isotope, which is then absorbed and concentrated selectively by the thyroid gland.

Explain why iodine-131 is suitable for this treatment.

[2]

Markscheme

Radioactivity Questions

IGCSE
Physics
Radioactivity

65 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Physics Radioactivity. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

Radioactivity

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Radioactivity

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

Question 19

Iodine-131 is a radioactive isotope that emits beta-minus particles.

The equation for this decay is

^{131}_{53}\text{I} \rightarrow ^{A}_{Z}\text{Xe} + ^{0}_{-1}\text{e}

(i) The atomic (proton) number for iodine-131 is

A 0
B 53
C 78
D 131

[1]

(ii) The mass (nucleon) number, $A$ , for $Xe\text{Xe}$ is

A -1
B 0
C 53
D 131

[1]

Iodine-131 is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Patients swallow a capsule containing the isotope, which is then absorbed and concentrated selectively by the thyroid gland.

Explain why iodine-131 is suitable for this treatment.

[2]

Markscheme

Radioactivity Questions

IGCSE
Physics
Radioactivity

65 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Physics Radioactivity. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.