CHEMISTRY EXAMINATION 2026
STRUCTURED GRADUATE-LEVEL EXAMINATION DESIGNED TO
EVALUATE CONCEPTUAL MASTERY, QUANTITATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING,
REACTION MECHANISMS
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION [2025/2026]
Alpha Decay
Loss of 2 protons, neutrons. Spits out alpha particle. Daughter mass number is 4 less, atomic
number is 2 less
Normal Beta Decay
Neutron splits into proton and high velocity electron known as beta particle. Daughter will be
different element but have same mass number as parent
Electron Capture
Proton and electron form neutron. Reverse of Beta decay
Positron Emission
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Proton splits into neutron and positron, a positive electron
, Gamma Decay
Energy is emitted as a Gamma ray photon. Daughter is identical to parent but with less energy
Degenerate quantum states
Quantum states or configurations that have identical energies
Atomic Size Trends
Increases going down, decreases going across to the right
Ionization Energy Trends
Increases as you go up and to the right
Electron Affinity Trends
Increases as you go up and to the right
Electronegativity
Ability to polarize bonding electrons. Generally increases as you go up and to the right on the
periodic table
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