Cobalt-60 is a radioactive substance - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 4
Cobalt-60 is a radioactive substance.
A nucleus of cobalt-60 contains 27 protons and 33 neutrons.
(i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Cobalt-60 is a radioactive substance - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. Since cobalt-60 has 27 protons, the correct answer is D 27.
Step 2
Explain what happens to the mass of a cobalt-60 atom when a gamma ray is emitted.
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Answer
When a cobalt-60 atom emits a gamma ray, there is no change in the mass of the atom. Gamma decay involves the release of energy, but it does not alter the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus, and hence the atomic mass remains the same.
