I am very confused.....Please help me?

Question

Choose the best answer:

1: Emission of which particle is associated with the increase in atomic number?

A: Alpha, B: Beta, C: Gamma, D: Electron

2: Which of the following is different from the other?

A: Be, B: Al, C: Br, D: Mg

Please don't think that i am trying to cheat my homework because i am not.....I am only a bit confused and i want to confirm my answer. But still..whatever your answer is, please don't forget to give explanation for it....PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! PLEASE

Answer 1

Question number 1 is poorly worded.  At least the "foils" are.  Those are the possible "answers".

When the atomic number increases by 1 following nuclear decay, then we have a beta particle being emitted.  But since a beta particle (B) is an electron, someone might also answer (D) and would be correct.

Of the four choices in #2, all are metals except bromine (C).  Again, whoever writes your questions needs some help.  There should be an "s" at the end of "other".

Also there may be other criteria that a student might be thinking of that would allow for a different selection.  Be, Mg and Al don't have d-orbital electrons, but Br does.  Ok.  It's bromine again (LOL).  

Be, Mg and Al are solids and Br is a liquid.  Br again.  Ha, ha.  Maybe whoever wrote this wasn't so off the wall, after all.

Also, bromine exhibits negative oxidation states, and the other three don't.  Ok.  I'll admit it.  Perhaps #2 isn't too bad after all.

By the way.  I think a lot about the construction of test questions because I write and evaluate questions for the North Carolina End of Course Test in chemistry.

Answer 2

1. Beta emission (which is the emission of a high-speed electron) results in the atomic number increasing by one.

. . . .C-14 ==>  N-14 + e-

2. C. Br is a nonmetal, the other three are all metals.

Answer 3

1. Beta.  When a beta particle is emitted, it's a nuetron that 'turns' into a proton.  Since the proton has a positive charge, an electron is emitted, to 'balance' this.  The atomic number of an element represents the amount of protons in it.  Since a new one has been added, the number increases.

2. I have no idea what you mean.  Different in what way?  These are all different elements.  Are you sure that you copied the entire question?

Answer 4

This is distant recollection - so interpret with caution.

I think the particle associated with atomic decay in the alpha particle; thus A would be my choice on question #1.

For question #2 - look at the periodic table link below and see which one of them is not like the others.  

Hint - One is a liquid at room temperature!  Br----ing it home!