RAD109/107 Structure of Matter Assignment

1. Define or otherwise identify the following:

b. The Rutherford atom

c. Positron

d. Nucleons

e. The arrangement of the periodic table of the elements

f. Radioactive half-life

g. W (chemical symbol for what element?)

h. Alpha particle

i. K shell

j. Chemical compound

6. If atoms large enough to have electrons in the T-shell existed, what would be
the maximum number allowed in that shell?

7. How much more tightly bound are K-shell electrons in tungsten than (a) L-shell
electrons, (b) M-shell electrons, (c) free electrons?

10. Complete the following table with relative values:

Type of Radiation Mass Energy Charge Origin

Alpha
Beta
Beta+
Gamma
X-ray
12. Who developed the concept of the atom as a miniature solar system?

13. List the fundamental particles within an atom.

14. What property of an atom does binding energy describe?

15. Can atoms be ionized by changing the number of positive charges?

17. What determines the chemical properties of an element?

18. Why doesn’t an electron spontaneously fly away from the nucleus of an atom?

BE SURE TO STUDY STRUCTURE OF MATTER KEY TERMS

1. Is the following statement true or false? Since neutrons do not carry a charge, the
number of neutrons is an isotope does not change the way an isotope behaves.

2. If a proton has a mass of 1.673 x 10-27 would the number be written by putting 27
zeros to the left or the right of the decimal point?

3. Based on what you have learned about what holds an atom together, what force must
be overcome to release the energy of an atomic bomb. Remember, the words nuclear and
nucleus are related.

4. The equation for kinetic energy is KE = ½ mv2. Kinetic energy is half of the mass of
the object times the square of its velocity. Although the atomic energy of electrons is not
precisely the same, what should occur as the electrons in an atom move faster?

5. If you compared an atom to our planetary system, the sun would be the nucleus and
the planets would be the electrons. Gravity is what keeps the planets from shooting off
into outer space. What keeps the electrons from shooting out of the atom?

6. Consider two pairs of twins, one identical and one fraternal. Identical twins are very
similar because they have exactly the same genes, as a result of one egg joined with one
sperm. They share the same chromosomal makeup and often experience close bonds as a
result. Fraternal twins, on the other hand do not share exactly the same genes. However,
by being so close together, they are often attracted to each other and develop bonds that
are just as strong. Which type of twins resembles covalent bonding?

7. Why are atoms with only one electron in their outer shell more likely to become ions?

8. Why do the six noble (inert) gases no easily react with other atoms to form
compounds?

9. In the creation of a compound that mixed 2 parts nickel with one part lead, would the
compound contain more atoms of the lead element or nickel element, or is there some
other answer?

10. The atoms in most metals bond in a way that allows electrons to readily move
throughout the bonded atoms. Why does this help electricity flow through metals?

11. We know that sunlight can knock electrons off atoms, and the electrons can then drift
over to other atoms and form a compound. We also know that sunlight can cause cancer
that develops years after exposure. What can sunlight do to a chromosome that can set
off the process of chemical change?
12. The basic parts of an atom are electrons, neutrons and protons. They are often called
the fundamental particles. If the hydrogen atom has an atomic number of 1 and an
atomic mass of 1.00797, how many protons and neutrons make up the nucleus?

13. All atoms of sodium, symbolized Na, have 11 protons. The atomic mass of sodium
in the periodic Table of the Elements is 22.9898. If most sodium atoms have 12
neutrons, why is the atomic mass number slightly less than 23 rather than slightly more
than 23?

14. While there is no set ratio of protons to neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, the
Periodic Table of the Elements reveals general trends. In increasingly large atoms, why
does the ratio of neutrons to protons generally increase?

15. Atoms normally have a neutral charge because the negatives are balanced by the
positives. If an electron is added or removed, however, the atom would no longer have a
neutral charge. What charge would an atom with an extra electron have?

16. Imagine two single atoms floating through space. By chance they come in contact
and a single electron from one atom transfers to the other atom. How would the changing
electrical charge of the two atoms affect then, and what is the process called?

17. The Periodic Table of Elements arranges the elements in a variety of ways. The
element francium, which has an atomic number of 87, is in the first group and the seventh
period of the chart. Based on this information, how many protons, electrons, and electron
shells does francium have?

18. Sodium is a soft metal that is very poisonous, and chlorine is a yellow-green gas that
is also very poisonous. When these two elements are combined to make a compound,
why can we ingest them without suffering any ill effects?

19. Sound travels in waves as molecules that are vibrating pass that energy on to
adjoining molecules that also vibrate and pass it on. Based on this, why would you not
hear someone calling for help in outer space?

20. A helium atom is made up of two protons, two neutrons and two electrons. What
would the helium atom become if the two electrons were removed?

21. To help understand the concept of half- life, imagine 100 kg of radioactive material
with a half-life of 100 years. After 400 years, how much of the material would have
decayed? How many half lives would it take for all the material to decay?