Chapter 17

What happens to an atom when it emits a positron?

What is a nuclear equation? What does it mean for a nuclear equation to be balanced?

Identify the parent nuclides and daughter nuclides in the nuclear equation. Which kind of radioactive decay is involved? $$ { }_{91}^{231} \mathrm{~Pa} \longrightarrow \frac{227}{89} \mathrm{Ac}+{ }_{2}^{4} \mathrm{He} $$

What is a film-badge dosimeter, and how does it work?

How does a Geiger-Muller counter detect radioactivity?

Explain how a scintillation counter works.

What are some sources of natural radioactivity?

Explain the concept of half-life.

What is a radioactive decay series?

What happens to the carbon-14 in a living organism when it dies? How can this be used to establish how long ago the organism died?