fifty six kg of a radioactive substance has a half life of 12 days how many days will it take the substance to decay naturally to only 7 kg

HESI A2

HESI A2 Chemistry

1. If fifty-six kilograms of a radioactive substance has a half-life of 12 days, how many days will it take the substance to decay naturally to only 7 kilograms?

A. 8
B. 12
C. 36
D. 48

Correct answer: C

Rationale: To decay from 56 kg to 7 kg, the substance needs to go through 3 half-lives (56 kg Ã· 2 Ã· 2 Ã· 2 = 7 kg). Since each half-life is 12 days, the total time required is 12 days per half-life x 3 half-lives = 36 days. Choice A is incorrect because it does not consider the concept of half-lives. Choice B is incorrect because it represents the duration of a single half-life, not the total time required for the decay. Choice D is incorrect as it does not account for the multiple half-lives needed for the substance to decay from 56 kg to 7 kg.

2. What charge do Group IA elements have?

A. +1
B. +2
C. +3
D. 0

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Group IA elements, also known as alkali metals, have a +1 charge. They readily lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming ions with a single positive charge. This makes +1 the correct choice. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because alkali metals in Group IA typically lose one electron, so they do not have a +2, +3, or 0 charge.

3. What are neutral particles called?

A. Neutrons
B. Protons
C. Electrons
D. Cations

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Neutral particles, which have no electric charge, are known as neutrons. Neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom along with protons. Electrons carry a negative charge and orbit the nucleus. Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Neutrons' as they are the neutral particles in an atom, unlike protons, electrons, or cations.

4. How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon-12?

A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 24

Correct answer: C

Rationale: An atom of carbon-12 has 6 neutrons. The atomic number of carbon is 6, representing the number of protons. The atomic mass of carbon-12 is 12. To find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass: 12 - 6 = 6 neutrons. Choice A, 2, is incorrect as it does not reflect the correct calculation for neutrons in carbon-12. Choice B, 4, is incorrect as it does not match the correct number of neutrons in carbon-12. Choice D, 24, is incorrect as it is significantly higher than the actual number of neutrons in carbon-12.

5. Which element has an atomic mass greater than that of sodium?

A. Boron
B. Oxygen
C. Fluorine
D. Silicon

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Silicon has an atomic mass greater than that of sodium. The atomic mass of silicon is approximately 28.0855 u, whereas the atomic mass of sodium is approximately 22.9898 u. Therefore, silicon has a greater atomic mass compared to sodium. Boron, Oxygen, and Fluorine have atomic masses lower than sodium, making them incorrect choices in this context.