Radioactive decay interactives

Explore the interactives listed below and answer the questions that match the activity.
Remember to use the PEEL process to answer your questions. Click on the URL to access
the interactives.

Interactive 1
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/alpha-decay

Questions:

1. Explain what happens in alpha radiation.

Alpha radiation occurs when an atom becomes unstable and alpha particles are
emitted to make the atom stable. Alpha decay happens in radioactive elements.

2. Predict what happens to an element when it undergoes alpha decay.

The atoms will lose protons and therefore become new elements. The atomic mass
also decreases. The atom’s atomic number also decreases as there is a loss of 2
protons.

3. Explain the concept of half-life, including the random nature of it

Half-life is the time it takes for half of the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to
decay.

Activity 2
Watch the video below and answer the questions.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvhe.sci.chemistry.decay/radioactive-decay-
of-carbon-14/
Questions:
1. Explain the difference between carbon 12 and carbon 14.
Carbon 12 has 6 protons and neutrons. While carbon 14 has eight neutrons. Carbon 14
is also unstable unlike carbon 12. Carbon 14’s atoms slowly decline and deteriorate.
A neutron becomes a proton, and an electron is ejected so the carbon 14 atom
becomes a nitrogen atom.
2. Explain how carbon 14 can be used for radiocarbon dating in climate change studies.
Living organisms have a fixed ratio of carbon 12 and 14 which are obtained by the
atmosphere or by other organisms. But when an organism dies, carbon 14 starts to
 decay. Comparing the ratio of carbon 12 and carbon 14 from the time of the death to
the present day, the age of the organism can be found. The period of varying sea
levels can be identified by radiocarbon dating trees and plants that were submerged or
above sea level to determine when the changes in sea level occurred.
3. Explain how carbon 14 can also be used for radiocarbon dating for palaeontology.
Although Carbon 14 can be used to date fossils, they must be under 60000 years old
and composed of organic material. Like radiocarbon dating for dead organisms, the
ratio of carbon 12 and 14 can identify the age of the fossil.

Please submit your work on GC