Band of Stability Worksheet
Explore the concept of the Band of Stability, nuclear forces, and radioactive decay modes in this Grade 12 Chemistry worksheet.
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Band of Stability: Nuclear Stability and Decay
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Read each question carefully and provide thorough answers. Refer to your knowledge of nuclear chemistry and the Band of Stability.
1. Define the 'Band of Stability' and explain its significance in nuclear chemistry.
2. Which of the following is true for isotopes lying above the Band of Stability?
They have too few neutrons and undergo positron emission.
They have too many neutrons and undergo beta decay.
They have too many protons and undergo alpha decay.
They are stable and do not undergo radioactive decay.
3. The primary forces acting within the nucleus are the strong nuclear force and the force.
4. For lighter elements, a neutron-to-proton ratio of approximately is indicative of stability.
5. All isotopes with an atomic number greater than 83 are radioactive.
True
False
6. Describe the conditions under which an isotope might undergo alpha decay. Provide an example of an element that commonly undergoes alpha decay.
Match the decay mode with its characteristic.
7. Beta decay
a. Neutron converted to proton, electron emitted
8. Positron emission
b. Proton converted to neutron, positron emitted
9. Electron capture
c. Inner orbital electron captured by nucleus
10. Discuss how the neutron-to-proton ratio influences nuclear stability and why this ratio tends to increase for heavier stable nuclei. Explain what happens to unstable nuclei that fall outside the Band of Stability.