GCSE Questions: Radioactivity

Q16. Polonium-210 ( ) is a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting alpha radiation.

(a) Which is the correct decay equation for polonium-210? (Tick one box).

[1 mark]

(b) Why is alpha radiation dangerous inside the human body?

[1 mark]

(i) Determine the change in mass of the sample of polonium-210 between 50 and 150 days.

[2 marks]

(ii) Estimate the mass of polonium-210 remaining after 300 days.

[1 mark]

(d) Nuclear radiation can cause ionisation.

(i) How does the charge of an ion differ from the charge of an atom?

(ii) How does an atom becomes an ion?

[3 marks]

(Total 8 marks)