GCSE Questions: Radioactivity

Q19.

(a) The graph shows a plot for the mass number and the atomic number for the nuclei of five different atoms.

(i) How many neutrons are there in a nucleus of atom A?

[1 mark]

(ii) Which two atoms are the same element?

[1 mark]

(b) Nucleus B decays by emitting an alpha particle.

Draw an arrow on the diagram to represent the alpha decay.

[2 marks]

[1 mark]

(d) A polonium (Po) nucleus decays by emitting an alpha particle and forming a lead (Pb) nucleus.

Po → Pb + α

The lead (Pb) nucleus then decays by emitting a beta particle and forms a bismuth (Bi) nucleus.

Pb → Bi + β

The bismuth (Bi) nucleus then decays by emitting a beta particle and forms a polonium (Po) nucleus.

Bi → Po + β

Explain how these three decays result in a nucleus of the original element, polonium.

[3 marks]

(Total 8 marks)