Nuclear Chemistry Previous Year Questions with Solutions
1.0Introduction (Nuclear Chemistry)
Nuclear Chemistry is the study of nuclear reactions, radioactivity, and the behaviour of radioactive elements. It explores processes such as nuclear decay, fission, fusion, and the forces that hold the nucleus together.
Nuclear Chemistry is a high-scoring and concept-based topic in Physical Chemistry. It covers fundamental principles such as radioactivity, nuclear reactions, half-life, and decay laws—all of which are frequently asked in competitive exams like JEE. While Nuclear Chemistry is a relatively small chapter, 1–2 questions are typically asked each year in JEE Main. In JEE Advanced, it may be integrated into mixed-concept or assertion-reason questions.
2.0Key Concepts to Remember
Nuclear Stability & Mass Defect: Some nuclei are stable, while others undergo radioactive decay. The mass defect is the difference between the mass of a nucleus and its nucleons, converted into binding energy that holds the nucleus together. Binding energy (B.E. = Δm × c²) indicates nuclear stability—higher B.E. means greater stability.
Nuclear Forces: Nuclear forces are strong, short-range forces binding protons and neutrons via meson exchange. They are much stronger than electrostatic forces.
Radioactivity & Types: Unstable nuclei emit α, β, or γ radiation:
- Alpha (α): He nucleus, low penetration, high ionization, reduces mass by 4 and atomic number by 2.
- Beta (β): Electron or positron emission; atomic number changes by ±1.
- Gamma (γ): High-energy photons; no change in mass or atomic number.
Decay Kinetics: Radioactive decay follows first-order kinetics: N=N0e−kt
- Half-life (t₁/₂): Time for half the atoms to decay.
- Activity (A): Disintegrations per second (A = kN).
- Average life: t = 1/k.
Decay Series: Radioactive series (Thorium, Uranium, Actinium, Neptunium) transform unstable elements into stable lead or bismuth isotopes via α and β decay.
Nuclear Reactions:
- Fission: Splitting heavy nuclei (e.g., U-235) releases ~200 MeV.
- Fusion: Combining light nuclei (e.g., H isotopes) at high temperatures releases enormous energy.
Applications:
- Carbon & Uranium Dating: Used in archaeology and geology.
- Medical: Cancer treatment using radioisotopes.
3.0JEE Main Past Year Questions with Solutions on Nuclear Chemistry
Q.1 The half-life of radioisotopic bromine-82 is 36 hours. The fraction which remains after one day is ___________ ×10–2.
(Given antilog 0.2006 = 1.587)
Ans. (63)
Solution.
Half life of bromine – 82 = 36 hours
t1/2=K0.693
K=360.693=0.01925 hr−1
1st order reaction kinetic equation
t=K2.303loga−xa
loga−xa=2.303t×K(t=1 day=24 hr)
loga−xa=2.30324 hr×0.01925 hr−1
loga−xa=0.2006
a−xa=antilog(0.2006)
a−xa=1.587
If a = 1
∴ 1−x=0.6301 =Fraction remain after one day
Q2 . The rate of first order reaction is 0.04 mol L–1 s–1 at 10 minutes and 0.03 mol L-1 s-1 at 20 minutes after initiation. Half life of the reaction is _______ minutes. (Given log2=0.3010, log3=0.4771)
Ans. (24)
Solution
0.04=k[A]0e–k×10×60 …(1)
0.03=k[A]0e–k×20×60 …(2)
(1)/(2)
34=e600k(2−1)
34=e600k
ln34=600k
ln34=600×t21ln2
t21=600ln34ln2sec
t21=600×log4−log3log2sec
t21=10×0.6020−0.4770.3.1.min
t21=24.08min
Ans. 24
Q. 3 At 30°C, the half-life for the decomposition of AB2 is 200 s and is independent of the initial concentration of AB2. The time required for 80% of the AB2 to decompose is
(Given: log 2 = 0.30; log 3 = 0.48)
(1) 200 s (2) 323 s (3) 467 s (4) 532 s
Ans. (3)
Sol. T1/2 = 200 s and 1st order reaction
K=2002.3030log2=t2.303log0.2A0A0
200log2=t1log5
t=37×200=466.67s
467s
Q.4 During the nuclear explosion, one of the products is 90Sr with a half-life of 6.93 years. If 1 g of 90Sr was absorbed in the bones of a newly born baby in place of Ca, how much time, in years, is required to reduce it by 90% if it is not lost metabolically______
Ans. (23 to 23.03)
Sol. All nuclear decays follow first-order kinetics.
t=k1ln[A][Ao]
0.693(t21)=2.303log1010=10×2.303×1
=23.03yrs
Q. 5 Half-life of a zero-order reaction A → product is 1 hour, when the initial concentration of the reactant is 2.0 mol L⁻¹. The time required to decrease the concentration of A from 0.50 mol L⁻¹ to 0.25 mol L⁻¹ is:
Ans: 15 minutes
Solution:
For a zero-order reaction, the rate law is:
[A]t=[A]0−kt
Also, the half-life (t₁/₂) for zero order is:
t1/2=2k[A]0
Given:
- t1/2=1t1/2=1t1/2=1hour
- [A]0=2.0mol L−1
Step 1: Find the rate constant k
1=2k2.0⇒k=1.0mol L−1hr−1
Step 2: Use the integrated zero-order rate law:
[A]t=[A]0−kt
Let:
- [A]0=0.50mol L−1
- [A]t=0.25mol L−1
0.25=0.50−(1.0)t ⇒ t=0.25 hr = 15 minutes
Ans: 15 minutes
Q.6 The half-life period of a first-order chemical reaction is 6.93 minutes. The time required for the completion of 99% of the chemical reaction will be (log 2=0.301) :
A. 230.3 minutes
B. 23.03 minutes
C. 46.06 minutes
D. 460.6 minutes
Ans: (C) 46.06 minutes
Given:
- Half-life of a first-order reaction: t1/2=6.93minutes
- We need the time required to complete 99% of the reaction, i.e., when [A] = 1% of [A]₀
For first-order reactions, the integrated rate law is:
ln([A][A]0)=kt
When 99% is completed:
[A][A]0=1100=100⇒ln(100)=kt
We know:
t1/2=k0.693⇒k=6.930.693=0.1min−1
Now,
ln(100)=ln(102)=2ln(10)=2×2.303=4.606
Now plug in:
4.606=0.1×t⇒t=0.14.606=46.06minutes
Answer = 46.06 minutes
Q.7 The radioactivity of a sample is R₁ at a time T₁ and R₂ at a time T₂. If the half-life of the specimen is T, the number of atoms that have disintegrated in the time (T₂–T₁) is proportional to:
(A) R1T1−R2T2
(B) R1−R2
(C) TR1−R2
(D) (R1−R2)⋅0.693T
Ans: (D)
Solution:
- Radioactivity R is given by: R = λN
where: - λ is the decay constant
- N is the number of undecayed nuclei.
- If radioactivity changes from R1 to R2, then the number of atoms that have disintegrated is proportional to: N1−N2=λR1−R2
But: λ=T0.693⇒λ1= 0.693T
Thus:
N1−N2∝λR1−R2R1−R2 =(R1−R2)⋅0.693t
Ans: (D) (R1−R2)⋅0.693T
Q. 8 An element X decays first by positron emission, and then two α-particles are emitted in successive radioactive decay. If the product nucleus has a mass number of 229 and atomic number 89, the mass number and atomic number of element X are:
(A) 273, 93
(B) 237, 94
(C) 238, 93
(D) 273, 92
Ans: (B) 237, 94
Solution: Let:
Final product: A=229, Z=89
Trace back from the final nucleus to the original nucleus X.
Step 1:( α-decay)
Each α-particle reduces:
Mass number (A) by 4
Atomic number (Z) by 2
So, after reversing 2 α-decays:
New mass number = 229 + 4×2 = 237
New atomic number = 89 + 2×2 = 93
Step 2: (β⁺ decay)
A positron emission decreases atomic number by 1 (proton → neutron), so reversing it increases atomic number by 1.
Final atomic number = 93 + 1 = 94
Mass number remains unchanged = 237
Ans: 237, 94
Q.9 Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(A) A Positron has the same mass as that of an electron
(B) Positron has the same charge as that of a proton
(C) Positron has the same e/m ratio as α-particles
(D) Emission of a positron increases the number of protons in the daughter nuclide
Ans: Statement C and Statement D are incorrect.
Solution
Statement (A). A positron has the same mass as an electron. This statement is correct.
Statement (B). A positron has a charge of +e. A proton has a charge of +e. Therefore, a positron has the same charge as a proton. This statement is correct.
Statement (C) The charge-to-mass ratio for a positron is mee
The charge-to-mass ratio for an alpha particle is 4mp2e= 2mpe
Since me =2mp, the e/m ratios are not the same.
This statement is incorrect.
Statement (D) Positron emission involves a proton converting to a neutron:
11p→01n++10e
This process decreases the number of protons by 1.
Therefore, positron emission results in a decrease, not an increase, in the number of protons. This statement is incorrect
Q.10 Radium occurs only in uranium ores, typically with an observed Radium/Uranium ratio of 1 mg / 3 kg. Uranium ores normally contain only about 200 ppm of uranium.
How many kilograms of uranium ore must be processed to obtain 1 mg of radium?
(A) 1700 kg ore
(B) 15000 kg ore
(C) 6.0×1086.0 \times 10^86.0×108 kg ore
(D) None of the above
Answer: (B) 15000 kg ore
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the data
- Radium/Uranium = 1 mg Ra per 3 kg U
- Uranium content = 200 ppm = 200 mg U / 1 kg ore = 0.2 g U / kg ore
Step 2: How much uranium is needed for 1 mg radium?
From the ratio:
1 mg Ra⇒3 kg of U
So, we need 3 kg of uranium to get 1 mg radium.
Step 3: Ore is needed to get 3 kg uranium
Since each 1 kg ore has 0.2 g = 0.0002 kg U, then:
Ore required= 0.0002 kgU/kgore3 kgU=15000 kgore