radioactive isotopes are frequently used in medicine what kind of half life would a medical isotope probably have

HESI A2

Chemistry HESI A2 Practice Test

1. Radioactive isotopes are frequently used in medicine. What kind of half-life would a medical isotope probably have?

A. Seconds-long
B. Days-long
C. Years-long
D. Many years long

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Medical isotopes used in diagnosis and treatment need to have a relatively short half-life to minimize radiation exposure to patients. If the half-life were too long (such as many years) or even years-long, the radiation would persist for too long and could be harmful to the patient. Seconds-long half-lives would not provide enough time for the isotope to be effective. Days-long half-lives strike a balance between providing enough time for the isotope to be used effectively and minimizing radiation exposure.

2. If electrons are not shared equally in a covalent bond, the bond is what?

A. Polar
B. Non-polar
C. Ionic
D. Hydrogen

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A polar covalent bond occurs when electrons are shared unequally between atoms. In this type of bond, one atom has a stronger pull on the shared electrons, leading to a partial positive and partial negative charge distribution within the molecule. Choice B, non-polar, is incorrect because in non-polar covalent bonds, electrons are shared equally between atoms. Choice C, ionic, is incorrect as ionic bonds involve a transfer of electrons rather than sharing. Choice D, hydrogen, is incorrect as it does not describe the nature of a covalent bond.

3. What are the three types of radiation?

A. Alpha, beta, gamma
B. Alpha, beta, delta
C. Gamma, delta, epsilon
D. Beta, gamma, epsilon

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Alpha, beta, gamma. Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei, beta radiation comprises electrons or positrons, and gamma radiation is high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Choice B, delta, is incorrect as delta is not a type of radiation. Choice C, gamma, delta, epsilon, and Choice D, beta, gamma, epsilon, are incorrect as they do not include the three standard types of radiation.

4. What is stoichiometry?

A. The study of energy changes in chemical reactions
B. The study of the mass relationships in chemical reactions
C. The study of atomic structure
D. The study of molecular geometry

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in chemical reactions. It focuses on the calculation of the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on the balanced chemical equation. Choice A is incorrect because the study of energy changes in chemical reactions falls under thermodynamics. Choice C is incorrect as atomic structure is related to the arrangement of atoms within molecules. Choice D is incorrect as molecular geometry deals with the spatial arrangement of atoms within molecules.

5. What charge do Group IIA elements typically have?

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

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Group IIA elements belong to the alkaline earth metals group in the periodic table. These elements typically have a charge of +2 because they readily lose two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Therefore, the correct answer is B - +2. Choice A (1) is incorrect because Group IIA elements lose two electrons, not one. Choice C (-3) is incorrect because Group IIA elements do not gain electrons to have a negative charge. Choice D (0) is incorrect because Group IIA elements do lose electrons and have a positive charge, not a neutral charge.