Earth Science 1086 Midterm 2 REVIEW | 2025-2026 LATEST
UPDATED|195 REAL EXAM | COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
100% RATED CORRECT | 100% VERFIED | ALREADY GRADED A+
How is the atomic number of an atom determined? - (answer)counting the number of protons in
the nucleus
Which process is not a common form of natural radioactive decay? - (answer)nuclear fission
Which material, principle, or process enables a method of numerical dating? -
(answer)radioactivity
Which is an example of radioactivity that occurs when a neutron is converted to a proton and an
electron is emitted from the nucleus? - (answer)emission of a beta particle
After four half-lives of decay, what is the ratio of radioactive parent isotope to stable daughter
isotope? - (answer)1:15
A radioactive element undergoes decay via the loss of two alpha particles to form a stable
daughter isotope. Following the decay, what would the atomic number of this newly created
stable isotope be? - (answer)The atomic number of the daughter isotope would be four units less
than the original parent isotope.
,Chemical analysis on a rock specimen has shown a ratio of 1:3 for radioactive parent to stable
daughter product. If the radioactive isotope in this rock has a half-life of 10,000 years, how old is
this rock? - (answer)20,000 years
During electron capture, the __________ remains unchanged. - (answer)mass number
In electron capture, when an electron and a proton combine to form an additional neutron, the
nucleus will now contain one less ________. This affects the __________________ by a
decrease of -1. - (answer)proton; atomic number
In beta particle emission, the nucleus will end up containing one more __________. -
(answer)proton
If 1:7 is the ratio of radioactive parent atoms to stable daughter atoms, there is one parent for
every __________ daughter atoms and ________ half-lives have passed. - (answer)seven; three
When an atom undergoes an alpha decay, it gives off an alpha particle made up of two protons
and two neutrons that come directly from its nucleus. During this process, the atomic mass
decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2. The atomic mass of both parent and
daughter elements is a superscript to the left of the elements, and the atomic number is a
subscript to the right.
For example, 238U92 → 234Th90 - (answer)Alpha (α) decay
, When an atom undergoes beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of an unstable atom is converted
into a proton and an electron. The electron is then emitted. During this process, the atomic mass
number remains the same and the atomic number increases by 1.
For example, 234Th90 → 234Pa91 - (answer)Beta (β) decay
In this form of radioactive decay, the nucleus of an atom absorbs an inner atomic electron and
converts a proton into a neutron. During electron capture, the atomic mass number remains the
same, but the atomic number decreases by 1.
For example, 59Ni28 → 59Co27 - (answer)Electron capture
Two protons and two neutrons are emitted from the nucleus, resulting in a lower mass number by
-4 and a lower atomic number by -2 for the isotope. - (answer)Alpha particle emission
A neutron is actually a combination of a proton and an electron, and in this process an electron
from the neutron is emitted from the nucleus. This doesn't affect the mass number, but it does
result in the gain of one more proton and thus changes the atomic number by +1. - (answer)Beta
particle emission
UPDATED|195 REAL EXAM | COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
100% RATED CORRECT | 100% VERFIED | ALREADY GRADED A+
How is the atomic number of an atom determined? - (answer)counting the number of protons in
the nucleus
Which process is not a common form of natural radioactive decay? - (answer)nuclear fission
Which material, principle, or process enables a method of numerical dating? -
(answer)radioactivity
Which is an example of radioactivity that occurs when a neutron is converted to a proton and an
electron is emitted from the nucleus? - (answer)emission of a beta particle
After four half-lives of decay, what is the ratio of radioactive parent isotope to stable daughter
isotope? - (answer)1:15
A radioactive element undergoes decay via the loss of two alpha particles to form a stable
daughter isotope. Following the decay, what would the atomic number of this newly created
stable isotope be? - (answer)The atomic number of the daughter isotope would be four units less
than the original parent isotope.
,Chemical analysis on a rock specimen has shown a ratio of 1:3 for radioactive parent to stable
daughter product. If the radioactive isotope in this rock has a half-life of 10,000 years, how old is
this rock? - (answer)20,000 years
During electron capture, the __________ remains unchanged. - (answer)mass number
In electron capture, when an electron and a proton combine to form an additional neutron, the
nucleus will now contain one less ________. This affects the __________________ by a
decrease of -1. - (answer)proton; atomic number
In beta particle emission, the nucleus will end up containing one more __________. -
(answer)proton
If 1:7 is the ratio of radioactive parent atoms to stable daughter atoms, there is one parent for
every __________ daughter atoms and ________ half-lives have passed. - (answer)seven; three
When an atom undergoes an alpha decay, it gives off an alpha particle made up of two protons
and two neutrons that come directly from its nucleus. During this process, the atomic mass
decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2. The atomic mass of both parent and
daughter elements is a superscript to the left of the elements, and the atomic number is a
subscript to the right.
For example, 238U92 → 234Th90 - (answer)Alpha (α) decay
, When an atom undergoes beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus of an unstable atom is converted
into a proton and an electron. The electron is then emitted. During this process, the atomic mass
number remains the same and the atomic number increases by 1.
For example, 234Th90 → 234Pa91 - (answer)Beta (β) decay
In this form of radioactive decay, the nucleus of an atom absorbs an inner atomic electron and
converts a proton into a neutron. During electron capture, the atomic mass number remains the
same, but the atomic number decreases by 1.
For example, 59Ni28 → 59Co27 - (answer)Electron capture
Two protons and two neutrons are emitted from the nucleus, resulting in a lower mass number by
-4 and a lower atomic number by -2 for the isotope. - (answer)Alpha particle emission
A neutron is actually a combination of a proton and an electron, and in this process an electron
from the neutron is emitted from the nucleus. This doesn't affect the mass number, but it does
result in the gain of one more proton and thus changes the atomic number by +1. - (answer)Beta
particle emission
