1.

131

Radioisotopes are often used for medical applications. I is a -emitter, and can be used to
131
treat an overactive thyroid gland. When a small dose of I is swallowed, it is absorbed into the
bloodstream. It is then concentrated in the thyroid gland, where it begins destroying the glands
cells.
(a)

Patients are advised that radiation detection devices used at airports may detect increased
radiation levels up to 3 months after the treatment. Explain how it is possible for the
131
activity of the I to be detected outside the body.
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(2)

131

(b)

(i)
The half-life of I is 8 days. What fraction of the original number of
iodine atoms will have decayed after a period of 24 days?
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Fraction = ...............................
(2)

(ii)

131

Doctors wish to prescribe a sample of I of activity 1.5 MBq. The sample is

prepared exactly 24 hours before it is due to be swallowed by the patient. Calculate
the activity that the sample should have when it is prepared.
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Activity = ............................... MBq
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

2.

241

Ionisation smoke detectors contain a small amount of the radioactive isotope americium. Am
is an -emitter. It has a half-life of 432 years, and the activity from the source in a new smoke
4
detector is about 3.5 10 Bq.
(a)

Explain why the radiation produced by a smoke detector does not pose a health hazard.
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(1)

(b)

(i)

Complete the nuclear equation for the decay of americium.

241
....... Am

......
93 Np

.......
.......
(2)

(ii)

Using data from the table, calculate the energy, in MeV, of -particles released
when a nucleus of americium-241 undergoes alpha decay.
Nuclide

Mass/u

Am

241.056 822

Np

237.048 166

-particle

4.002 603

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Energy = ..................................... MeV
(3)

(c)

An ionisation smoke detector is sold with the guarantee that it lasts a lifetime.
Comment on the appropriateness of this guarantee, based on its use of americium-241.
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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

3.

Below are the symbols for some nuclei of the element tin.
111
50 Sn

112
50

Sn

113
50

Sn

114
50

Sn

115
50

Sn

What name is given to different nuclei of this type?

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(1)

111
50 Sn

decays by beta-plus emission into indium (In). Write a balanced nuclear equation for this
decay.
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(2)

Which nucleus in the list is likely to produce the densest material?

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(1)
(Total 4 marks)

4.

Young people have swum for many years in an unusually warm Siberian river near to a secret
nuclear fuel reprocessing factory. This factory has made regular discharges of nuclear waste
into the river.
Why is the river unusually warm?
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(1)

Alpha ( ), beta ( ) and gamma ( ) radiation can be emitted by the radioactive waste. What
are each of these?
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(3)

For the swimmers health, which are the most hazardous radioactive nuclei in the water: those
emitting , or radiation?
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Explain your answer.
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(2)

Some people say that the water would still be radioactive if the factory were not there, since we
live in a radioactive world. Where could this radioactivity come from?
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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

5.

32

Phosphorus 15 P is unstable and decays by

for this decay.

emission to sulphur, S. Write a nuclear equation

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(1)

Describe how, using a Geiger counter and suitable absorbers, you could show that an unstable

nuclide of long half-life emitted only radiation.

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(4)

The scatter diagram shows the relationship between the number of neutrons and the number of
protons for stable nuclides.
N um ber of
n e u tr o n s N 1 2 0

100
80

60
40

20
0

20

40

60
80
N u m b e r o f p ro to n s Z

Show on the diagram the region where nuclides which decay by

emission would be found.

Use the diagram to help you explain your answer.

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(3)
(Total 9 marks)

6.

The grid shows the relationship between number of neutrons N and number of protons Z for
some of the stable nuclides in the region Z = 31 to Z = 45.
N

60

55

50

45

40

30

Strontium-90,

35

90
38

40

45

Sr, is an unstable nuclide. It decays by

yttrium. On the graph mark the position of

90
38

emission to an unstable isotope of

Sr and this isotope of yttrium.

(2)

82
37

Rb is another unstable nuclide. Mark the position of

By what means would you expect

82
37

82
37

Rb on the graph.

Rb to decay?

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(2)
(Total 4 marks)