Which option correctly compares beta decay and gamma decay?

Question

Responses:

Beta decay only reduces the energy level, while gamma decay releases a particle. Gamma decay is a form of nuclear fission, but beta decay is not.

Beta decay only reduces the energy level, while gamma decay releases a particle. Neither beta decay nor gamma decay is a form of nuclear fission.

Beta decay releases a particle, while gamma decay only reduces the energy level. Neither beta decay nor gamma decay is a form of nuclear fission.

Beta decay releases a particle, while gamma decay only reduces the energy level. Beta decay is a form of nuclear fission, but gamma decay is not.

Answer 1

The correct option is:

Beta decay releases a particle, while gamma decay only reduces the energy level. Neither beta decay nor gamma decay is a form of nuclear fission.

Explanation:

• Beta decay involves the transformation of a neutron into a proton (or vice versa), resulting in the emission of a beta particle (an electron or positron).
• Gamma decay involves the release of energy in the form of gamma radiation, typically as a transition between energy states in the nucleus, and does not involve the emission of particles.
• Neither process is classified as nuclear fission, which involves the splitting of a nucleus into smaller parts.

Answer 2

use the equation to complete the activity.

219 86Rn→215 84Po+42He

The nuclear equation shows the transmutation of a form of radon into polonium and an alpha particle. In one to two sentences, explain whether or not the reaction is balanced based on the number of protons and neutrons.

Answer 3

To determine if the reaction is balanced, we can compare the total number of protons and neutrons on both sides of the equation.

On the left side, radon (Rn) has 86 protons and 219 - 86 = 133 neutrons. On the right side, polonium (Po) has 84 protons and 215 - 84 = 131 neutrons, while the alpha particle (He) has 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

Adding up the right side: 84 (Po) + 2 (He) = 86 protons, and 131 (Po) + 2 (He) = 133 neutrons.

Since both the number of protons (86) and the number of neutrons (133) are equal on both sides, the reaction is balanced.

Answer 4

Nuclear equations describe the nuclei that are involved before and after the reaction. In one to two sentences, explain how you would identify the reaction as fusion, and give two different criteria.

Answer 5

A nuclear reaction can be identified as fusion if it involves the combining of two lighter atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus. Two criteria to identify fusion include: 1) the reaction typically occurs under extreme temperatures and pressures, such as those found in stars, and 2) the mass of the resulting nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the original nuclei, with the "missing" mass converted into energy according to Einstein's equation \(E=mc^2\).

Answer 6

Use the equation to answer the question.

10 6C→10 5B+ 0+1e

A student claims that the equation models beta-minus decay because the atomic number of the nucleus decreases by one. In 1–2 sentences, explain the error in the student’s reasoning and what the model actually represents.

Answer 7

The student's reasoning contains an error because, in beta-minus decay, a neutron is transformed into a proton, resulting in an increase in atomic number by one, rather than a decrease. The equation actually represents beta-plus decay (or positron emission), where a proton is transformed into a neutron, causing the atomic number to decrease by one (from carbon to boron).