Radiation

Description

Leaving Certificate Chemistry (Radioactivity) Flashcards on Radiation, created by eimearkelly3 on 01/07/2013.
eimearkelly3
Flashcards by eimearkelly3, updated more than 1 year ago
eimearkelly3
Created by eimearkelly3 over 11 years ago
393
1

Resource summary

Question Answer
Henri Becquerel Uranium salts emit radiation --> photographic plate
Radiation The spontaneous breaking up of unstable nuclei resulting in the emission of radiation
What elements were isolated by Marie and Pierre Curie? Polonium, Radium
What are the three types of radiation? Alpha, beta, gamma
What is used to detect radioactivity? A Geiger-Müller Tube
How does this tube work? A gas is ionised by alpha, bet or gamma radiation and the resulting electric current is amplified and detected.
Alpha particles or... helium nuclei (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
Properties of alpha particles Positively charged Can't penetrate the skin / paper (pentrating ability = low) Damage human cells Are deflected in a magnetic or electrical field
Uses of alpha particles In smoke detectors (Americium 241)
How does a smoke detector work? Smoke detectors contain a radioactive source - Am-241, and a detector. They sense a change in the amount of radiation (alpha particles) reaching the detector in the presence of smoke.
What are the harmful effects of alpha particles? Cause cancer, e.g. radon-alpha emitter causes lung cancer
Beta particles or... electrons
Properties of beta particles Moderate pentrating ability (stopped by 5mm aluminium) Negative charge Delflected in magnetic/electrical fields
Uses of beta particles Carbon-14 dating All living organisms contain Carbon-14 and Carbon-12 When the organism dies, the carbon-14 will decay The ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12 gives the age of the organism.
Harmful effects of beta particles Cause cancer
Gamma rays are... High energy electromagnetic radiation
Properties of gamma rays No charge High penetrating ability (stopped by lead) No effect in magnetic/electrical fields
Uses of gamma rays Food preservation by irridation (Cobalt-60) Cobalt-60 used in the treatment of cancer
The differences between chemical and nuclear reactions In a chemical reaction, the reaction involves a change in the distribution of electrons --> no new element can be formed In a nuclear reaction, the reaction involves changes in the nucleus --> new elements can be formed
Radioisotopes Unstable, radioactive isotopes
Half-life of a radioactive isotope The amount of time it takes for half of the atoms in the sample to decay e.g. Am-241 has a half-life of 400 years
Background radiation Radiation that surrounds us all the time Sources include: the decay of radioisotopes in rocks resulting in the emission of radon gas Nuclear waste Weapons testing Medical sources such as the use of cobalt-60 in cancer treatment and in medical X-rays.
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

P2 Radioactivity and Stars
dfreeman
Ionic Bondic Flashcards.
anjumn10
AS Chemistry - Enthalpy Changes
Sarah H-V
The Periodic Table
asramanathan
Acids, Bases and Salts
asramanathan
Chemical Symbols
Keera
Acids and Bases
Sarah Egan
Using GoConqr to study science
Sarah Egan
Electrolysis
lisawinkler10
Acids and Bases
silviaod119
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
silviaod119