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 t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Cobalt-60 is a radioactive substance - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
The number of electrons in a neutral atom of cobalt-60 is
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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 number of electrons is also 27. Therefore, 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 radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted during the decay process, and it does not involve the loss of protons or neutrons. As a result, the atomic mass remains the same after the emission of gamma rays.
