Download Regents Chemistry 2011-2012

Regents Chemistry
2011-2012
Name: __________________________________________ Date: ______________
Lab #2: The Radioactive Decay of Uranium-238
Pre-lab Questions:
[to be answered in full, complete, grammatically, correct sentences]
1. Explain how unstable atoms gain stability.
2. What determines whether or not an atom is stable?
3. What is the process whereby an atom gains stability called?
4. Describe what happens in this process named in question 3.
5. When balancing a nuclear equation, what two quantities are conserved?
6. What does the term ‘conserved’ mean in terms of balancing a nuclear equation?
7. What is a radioactive decay series?
8. If a scientist wishes to determine the age of a sample of uranium ore, the scientist would
compare the relative amounts of what two isotopes in the ore?
9. Looking at the graph you made, describe how
a. atomic number and mass number change in beta decay
b.
atomic number and mass number change in alpha decay
Make sure your final lab report contains:
1. The 14 equations that represent the natural radioactive decay of U-238 to Pb-206.
2. A graph of mass number (y-axis) verses atomic number (x-axis) for each element in the series.
Write the element’s symbol at its point on the graph and connect the appropriate points in
order of decay with an arrow. [see text or ppt for example of graph of decay series]
3. Write one example each for an alpha decay equation and a beta decay equation from the
graph. [you can make a notation next to one alpha and one beta equation that you wrote out
for #1]
4. Don’t forget to attach the lab handout you were given.