Name ………………………………… Form …………….

Radioactivity Booklet 1
Atomic Structure, Radioactive Decay, Half-life

Prep details and comments Date

Specification:

1
2
Atomic Notation Notes https://goo.gl/5ZNDXJ

An isotope is an atom with a different number of _________________ but the same number of
___________________

atomic atomic mass number of number of number of

element
notation number number protons neutrons electrons
1
hydrogen 1 H

2
hydrogen 1 H

fluorine 9 19

sulfur 16 17

16 34

36 29

16
8 O

29 34

6 14

14 7

15 7

Uranium 238

234 92

2 2

2 1

3
Radioactivity Notes https://goo.gl/qYGS5f

4
Radioactivity
Some substances give out __________ all the time, whatever is done to them. These
substances are said to be __________.

Radioactivity is a __________ process (we cannot predict exactly when it will happen)

Radioactivity occurs as a result of changes in the __________ of atoms (nuclear changes).

Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes or __________) are atoms with __________ nuclei.

When an unstable nucleus splits up (___________):

• it ___________ radiation;

• a different atom, with a different number of ___________, is formed (only for α and β decay).

There are radioactive substances all around us, including in the ___________, in the air, in ________
materials and in ___________. Radiation also reaches us from space. The radiation from all these sources
is called ___________ radiation.

unstable radiation decays ground food nuclei

radionuclides random protons radioactive building background

5
Atomic Structure Questions
3
1. (a) Tritium ( 1 H ) is an isotope of hydrogen. Tritium has a proton number of 1 and a mass number
of 3.

(i) The diagram below shows a simple model of a tritium atom. Complete the diagram by
adding the names of the particles indicated by the labels.

[4]

(ii) Explain how the nucleus of an ordinary hydrogen atom is different from the nucleus of a
1
tritium atom. Ordinary hydrogen atoms ( 1 H ) have a mass number of 1.

..............................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

[2]

(iii) Tritium is a radioactive substance which emits beta (β) radiation.

Why do the atoms of some substances give out radiation?

..............................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................

[1]

2. The diagrams below represent three atoms, A, B and C.

(a) Two of these atoms are from

the same element.

(i) Which of A, B and C is an

atom of a different
element? ....................
A B C

(ii) Give one reason for your answer.

6
 ................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................ [2]

(b) Two of these atoms are isotopes of the same element.

(i) Which two are isotopes of the same element? .................... and ....................

(ii) Explain your answer.

................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................

[3]

3. (a) Complete the table about atomic particles.

A T O M IC PA R T IC L E R E L A T IV E M A S S R E L A T IV E C H A R G E

p ro to n +1

n e u tro n 1 0

e le c tro n n e g lig ib le

[2]

(b) Potassium is a metallic element in Group 1 of the Periodic Table.

It has a proton (atomic) number of 19.
39
19 K
Its most common isotope is potassium-39, ( ).
40
Another isotope, potassium-40, ( 19 K ), is a radioisotope.

(i) State the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in potassium-39.

Number of protons ...............................................................................

Number of neutrons .............................................................................

Number of electrons ..............................................................................

[3]

(ii) Explain why potassium-40 has a different mass number from potassium-39.

..............................................................................................................

[1]

(iii) What is meant by a radioisotope?

.............................................................................................................. [1]

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 Marie Curie and the discovery of radioactivity
This video tells the story of Marie Curie and her discovery of radioactivity. https://goo.gl/zRPXui

Answer the questions below in the spaces provided.

The first few minutes describe some of the background events leading up to Marie Curie’s discovery.

1. In what year did Marie Curie leave Poland to study in Paris?

…………………………………………………………………………………….

2. At which University in Paris did she study?

…………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Before Marie Curie’s time scientists thought that the only way to release energy from matter was through a chemical
reaction, such as burning magnesium in air.

(a) Who found a new form of energy released by matter in 1896?

…………………………………………………………………….

(b) What did he discover about uranium?

…………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. The new form of energy was detectable because of the effect in had on the air around it.

What do the rays from uranium enable air to do?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….

5. (a) What substance did Marie Curie find emitted more of this new form of energy than uranium?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….

(b) What did Marie Curie set out to find from this substance?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….…………………………………………………………………….…………………..

(c) How long did she spend on this task?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….

6. What did Marie and Pierre Curie call the new element?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….

7. What word did they use to describe an element that emitted this form of energy?

……………………………………………………

8. What did the new element do to Pierre Curie’s arm?

…………………………………………………………………….…………….

8
9. According to the video, what does this form of radiation do to living cells?

……………………………………………………

10. What disease, caused by radiation, probably killed Marie Curie?

……………………………………………………

Now try to answer the questions in the spaces provided. You will need to use a suitable source of information.

How many types of radiation from radioactive elements did other scientists go on to discover? What were these
types called and what was the nature of each (i.e. what makes up each type)?

From which part of the atom does this radiation originate?

Why are some types of atom radioactive while others are not?

9
Inside the nucleus during decay
Alpha Decay:
In alpha decay, the parent nucleus emits two of its protons and neutrons. This is a ________________
_________________

Real Example:

Beta Decay:
In beta decay a _________________ in the parent nucleus changes into a _______________ and produces
an __________________

Real Example:

10
Gamma Decay:
In gamma decay a _________________ _________________ is emitted. The nucleus loses
_________________ but there are no changes to the numbers of protons and neutrons.

Real example:

Summary of the three types of nuclear decay

Property\Particle Alpha (α) Beta (β) Gamma (γ)
Helium nucleus High Speed Em Wave
What it is
Electron

Electric Charge 2 -1 0

4 x mass of a 1/2000 mass of a massless

Mass
nucleon proton

Speed Relatively slow fast C

Ionisation Most Medium Less

Strength
Penetration A few cms Several metres Long range
Through Air
Paper A few mm of Al Several cms of
Stopped By
lead
Lose 2 p and 2 n + 1 proton, same No effect (less
Effect on nucleus
mass number nuclear energy)

11
What is ionisation?
Complete the three sentences below by sorting the phrases underneath.

When radiation…

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

This process…

_______________________________________________________________________________

Ionisation…

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Phrases:

creating free electrons and positively charged ions. causing mutations and possibly cancer.

of high enough energy passes through but can damage or kill living cells,

detecting radiation e.g. In GM tubes and Cloud electrons out of atoms,

Chambers,
is called Ionisation.
matter, it can knock
is both useful and dangerous. It is useful for

12
Decay Equations https://goo.gl/zbWJbp

13
Decay Equations
For the questions below you will need to use the following information:

Element Symbol Atomic Mass Element Symbol Atomic Mass

Number Number Number Number

Hydrogen H 1 1 Platinum Pt 78 195

Helium He 2 4 Gold Au 79 197

Lithium Li 3 7 Mercury Hg 80 201

Beryllium Be 4 9 Thallium Tl 81 204

Boron B 5 11 Lead Pb 82 207

Carbon C 6 12 Bismuth Bi 83 209

Nitrogen N 7 14 Radon Rn 86 222

Oxygen O 8 16 Radium Ra 88 226

Fluorine F 9 19 Thorium Th 90 232

Neon Ne 10 20 Protactinium Pa 91 231

Sodium Na 11 23 Uranium U 92 238

Magnesium Mg 12 24 Neptunium Np 93 237

Aluminium Al 13 27 Plutonium Pu 94 244

1. Every atom can be written using the formula:

A
X
Z
Write down the symbol with mass and atomic numbers for

a. Lithium

b. Sodium

c. Radon

2. Even radioactive particles have these symbols and their charges and mass must be considered.

Write down the symbol formula for

14
 a. an alpha particle

b. a beta particle

3. Why doesn’t a gamma particle have any atomic or mass number?

Now when we look at nuclear equations, such as when a nucleus decays, the mass numbers and atomic numbers
must always add up. Look at the following as an example:

Alpha decay: 238

U
92

0
β
Beta decay: -1

Effectively, check that all the top numbers match up, and that all the bottom numbers match up. Then you know
that you have written down what happens correctly. Notice that all the electrons are ignored. This is Physics, not
Chemistry! Now practise what you have learned.

1) Write down general equations for the decay of a nucleus X with Atomic Number A and Proton Number Z for:

a. Alpha Decay: ………………………………………………………………………………

b. Beta Decay: …………………………………………………………………………………

c. Gamma Decay: ……………………………………………………………………………

2) Complete these equations for different radioactive decays.

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 226 222
a) Ra à 86
Rn +
88

218 0
b) Po à At + -1
β
84

99 0
c) 33
Tc à + 0
γ

131 131
d) I à 54
Xe +
53

14 14 0
e) C à N +
6

228 4
f) Th à Ra + 2 α
90

32
g) 15
P à 16
S + β

212
h) Po à Pb + α
84

35
i) S à 17
Cl + β

235
j) Pu à 92
U + α

137
k) Cs à Cs +
55

3. Show what happens when Plutonium 242 decays by alpha emission.

4. Show what happens when Mercury 212 decays by alpha emission.

16
 5. Show what happens when Hydrogen 3 decays by beta emission.

6. Show what happens when Sodium 25 decays by beta emission.

7. Show how Gold 210 can be formed by alpha emission.

8. Show how Thorium 236 can be formed by alpha emission.

9. Show how Lithium 6 can be formed by beta emission.

10. Show how Neon 20 can be formed by beta emission.

Extension:
11. Assuming it was possible, show how Lead could decay to form Gold. (hint: at least 3 stages needed)

17
Half Life
https://goo.gl/pXwSgp

18
Simulating decay using dice https://goo.gl/ieXNdP
1. Count the total number of dice you are starting with and put that number in the last column
first row.
2. Throw dice. Each throw of the dice is worth 1 second. Each dice that has a black upturned face
represents an atom that has decayed in that second.
3. Count and record the number of black upturned faces. These are the decayed atoms. Enter the
number in the “Number of decays” column.
4. Remove the decayed atoms from the sample.
5. Previous Total – Number of decays in the roll = Total remaining
6. Repeat steps 1 - 3 until you have around 2 atoms left.
Time /s Number of Decays in the roll Total Number of Nuclei Remaining
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

19
1 Draw graphs (on the next page) of
a. Total number of decays (y-axis) versus time (x-axis)
b. The number of atoms left (y-axis) versus time (x-axis)

2 From graph 6b. work out 3 different times for the sample to halve in size, e.g. from initial to half, to quarter,
to an eighth.

Questions to answer:
3 What is the half-life of your sample?

4 Does the half-life depend on how many atoms there are?

5 Does the activity depend on how many atoms there are?

6 What might you change on your dice to represent an isotope with a different half-life?

20
21
Half Life Questions
1. Half life is the amount of _______________ it takes for the:

 ____________________ of parent nuclei to reduce by half.

 ____________________ of radioisotope present to reduce by half.
 ____________________ of a sample to reduce by half.

2. The table below shows the count rate from a radioisotope over time. The
background rate was found to be 10 Bq from the measurements made
before the experiment.

Time /s Count rate / Bq Corrected count rate / Bq

0 610

100 369

200 228

300 139

400 85

500 57

600 40

a) What instrument could be used to measure the count-rate?

b) Why does the count from the radioisotope decrease with time?

c) Why did a background count have to be taken?

d) Complete the 3rd column of the table, taking into account the background radiation.

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2. Fluorine-21 has a half life of approximately 5 seconds. What fraction of the original nuclei would remain
after 1 minute?

[2]

3. Iodine-131 has a half life of 8 days. What fraction of the original sample would remain at the end of 32 days?

[2]

4. The half-life of chromium-51 is 28 days. If the sample contained 510 grams, how much chromium would
remain after 56 days? How much would remain after 1 year? How much was present 168 days ago?

[2]

5. If 20.0 g of a radioactive isotope are present at 1:00 PM and 5.0 g remain at 2:00 PM, what is the half life of
the isotope?

[2]

6. The half life of Uranium-238 is 4.5 billion years and the age of earth is 4.5 X 10 9 years. What fraction of
Uranium-238 that was present when Earth was formed still remains?

[2]

7. Chromium-48 decays. After 6 half-lives, what fraction of the original nuclei would remain?

[2]

23
8. The half life of iodine-125 is 60 days. What fraction of iodine-125 nuclides would be left after 360 days?

[2]

9. Titanium-51 decays with a half life of 6 minutes. What fraction of titanium would remain after one hour?

[2]

10.A medical institution requests 1 g of bismuth-214, which has a half life of 20 min. How many grams of
bismuth-214 must be prepared if the shipping time is 2 h?

[2]

11.The half life of radium 226 is 1602 years. If you have 500 grams of radium today how many grams would have
been present 9612 years ago?

[2]

12.Carbon dating can be used to find the approximate age of objects by using the amount of carbon-14 present
in the sample. The half life of carbon-14 is 5700 years.

a. The preserved remains of a body with a mass of 60 kg was found to contain 12.5 g of carbon-14.
Records show that the average human with a mass of 60 kg should have around 100 g of carbon-14
present in their body.

i. How many half lives have passed since the person died?

24
 ii. How old is the body?

[4]

b. A collector of rare items is negotiating with a museum. He wants to sell a stake he claims to be the
one that was made to kill Dracula in the 1400s. A stake that size would have started with around 2 g
of carbon-14, and the museum tests show it now contains around 1 g.

i. How many half lives have passes since the stake was carved?

ii. How long has passed since the stake was carved?

iii. Is the stake what the salesman claims?

[6]

25
Half Life Graph Questions
1. The graph below shows a decay curve for the number of parent atoms left in a radioactive material.

a. What is the half life of the radioactive material?

b. What percentage of the original radioactive material is left after

20 hours?

2. Look at the graph of the decay of a

sample in 24 days.

What is its half-life?

a. After how long would it have

decayed to 1/8th of its original activity?

26
b. If background radiation is measured at 0.8Bq, after
approximately how many days will it have reached this safe level?

234
3. During an investigation into the decay of 90 Th (thorium – 234), the count rate per minute was measured
three times and found to be 1942, 1898 and 1926.
234
With the 90 Th source removed the count rate per minute was 20, 22 and 24, again measured at three
different times.

i) Explain why the measurements vary.

ii) Why is there a detectable count rate when the source is taken away?

iii) Calculate the average count rate caused by the thorium.

iv) 48 days later the measurements were repeated, and the average count rate for the thorium sample
found to be 497 per minute. Calculate the half life of thorium.

4. The half lives of many naturally occurring substances are very much less than the age of the Earth. For
example, the half life of thoron gas is about one minute.

Explain briefly why these substances have not disappeared long ago.

27
Key terms
Term Definition
Atomic Number of protons in a nucleus
Number

Number of protons + number of neutrons in a

Mass Number nucleus
Nuclei with same number of protons, but
Isotope different number of neutrons
Radiation made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
Alpha particle (Helium Nuclei)
Radiation made of a high-speed electron
Beta particle

Radiation which is an EM Wave

Gamma ray

Decays per seconds (measured in Bq)

Activity

Time taken for the activity to half

Half-life

Contaminatio When an object has a radioactive source caught

n amongst it/
When radiation has passed through an object.
Irradiation

28
 Radioactivity 1 Learning Checklist
(a) Units

Students should:

7.1 use the following units: becquerel (Bq), centimetre (cm),

hour (h), minute (min) and second (s)

(b) Radioactivity
Learning Objective (with I I
Specification Reference No)
c n
a e
n e
d
d
o h
e
t l
h p
i
s w
i
t
h

t
h
i
s

7.2 describe the structure of an

atom in terms of protons, neutrons and
electrons and use
14
symbols such as 6C to describe
particular nuclei

7.3 know the terms atomic

(proton) number, mass (nucleon)
number and isotope

−
7.4 know that alpha (α) particles, beta (β ) particles, and gamma (γ)
rays are ionising radiations emitted from unstable nuclei in a random
process

−
7.5 describe the nature of alpha (α) particles, beta (β )
particles, and gamma (γ) rays, and recall that they may be
distinguished in terms of penetrating power and ability to ionize

7.6 practical: investigate the penetration powers of different

types of radiation using either radioactive sources or simulations

29
7.7 describe the effects on the atomic and mass numbers of a
nucleus of the emission of each of the four main types of radiation
(alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation)

7.8 understand how to balance

nuclear equations in terms of mass and
charge

7.9 know that photographic film

or a Geiger−Müller detector can detect
ionising radiations

7.10 explain the sources of background (ionising) radiation from Earth

and space

7.11 know that the activity of a radioactive source decreases

over a period of time and is measured in becquerels

7.12 know the definition of the term half-life and understand

that it is different for different radioactive isotopes

7.13 use the concept of the half-life to carry out simple

calculations on activity, including graphical methods

30