Ionizing alpha

Radiation (ionizing) Alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, x-rays, and other particles capable of producing ions does not include nonionizing radiation forms such as radio waves, microwaves, or visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light. 

Only the Volta potential difference sAmV / can be measured experimentally. For example, using the Kenrick experiment illustrated in fig. 8.12, one can measure the value of sA]ji / between liquid metals like mercury and electrolyte solutions. In the case of solid metals, the cell used to measure the compensation potential can have the same configuration as that for the Kenrick experiment (cell (8.7.9)). However, the air gap is formed between a metal disk placed a small distance above the solution phase. The potential difference between these phases is eliminated using ionizing alpha radiation from a radioactive substance placed in the gap. The end result is that the Volta potential difference is obtained for the cell. 

Resistivity measurements of doped, alpha-siUcon carbide single crystals from —195 to 725°C showed a negative coefficient of resistivity below room temperature, which gradually changed to positive above room temperature (45). The temperature at which the changeover occurred increased as the ionization of the donor impurity increased. This is beUeved to be caused by a change in conduction mechanism. 

Alpha carbon atoms, 348 Alpha decay, 417, 443 Alpha particle, 417 scattering, 245 Aluminum boiling point, 365 compounds, 102 heat of vaporization, 365 hydration energy, 368 hydroxide, 371 ionization energies, 269, 374 metallic solid, 365 occurrence, 373 properties, 101 preparation, 238. 373 reducing agent, 367 Alums, 403 Americium... 

General. The use of alpha particles instead of electrons as in conventional ion-molecule reaction mass spectrometers introduces a difference in primary ionization conditions which is not as great as might be supposed. Thus, the primary ion mass spectra produced by alpha particles are very similar to these produced by say 70-e.v. electrons (30). Secondary electrons produced by the alpha particles are responsible for more than 50% of the total ionization. The energies of these electrons peak in the range 20-100 e.v. so that again the primary ions will be similar to those produced by 70-e.v. electrons. 

GC/MS has been employed by Demeter et al. (1978) to quantitatively detect low-ppb levels of a- and P-endosulfan in human serum, urine, and liver. This technique could not separate a- and P-isomers, and limited sensitivity confined its use to toxicological analysis following exposures to high levels of endosulfan. More recently, Le Bel and Williams (1986) and Williams et al. (1988) employed GC/MS to confirm qualitatively the presence of a-endosulfan in adipose tissue previously analyzed quantitatively by GC/ECD. These studies indicate that GC/MS is not as sensitive as GC/ECD. Mariani et al. (1995) have used GC in conjunction with negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry to determine alpha- and beta-endosulfan in plasma and brain samples with limits of detection reported to be 5 ppb in each matrix. Details of commonly used analytical methods for several types of biological media are presented in Table 6-1. 

Dacheux N, Aupiais J (1997) Determination of uranium, thorium, plutonium, americium, and curium ultratraces by photon electron rejecting alpha liquid scintillation. Anal Chem 69 2275-2282 Duan YX, Chamberlin EP, Olivares JA (1997) Development of a new high-efficiency thermal ionization source for mass spectrometry. Inti JMass Spectrom IonProcessesl61 27-39 Edwards RL, Chen JH, Wasserburg GJ (1987) systematics and the precise... 

Alpha Track—The track of ionized atoms (pattern of ionization) left in a medium by an alpha particle that has traveled through the medium. 

Ionizing Radiation—Any radiation capable of knocking electrons out of atoms and producing ions. Examples alpha, beta, gamma and x rays, and neutrons. 

High-LET—Energy transfer characteristic of heavy charged particles such as protons and alpha particles where the distance between ionizing events is small on the scale of a cellular nucleus. 

The numerical combination of protons and neutrons in most nuclides is such that the nucleus is quantum mechanically stable and the atom is said to be stable, i.e., not radioactive however, if there are too few or too many neutrons, the nucleus is unstable and the atom is said to be radioactive. Unstable nuclides undergo radioactive transformation, a process in which a neutron or proton converts into the other and a beta particle is emitted, or else an alpha particle is emitted. Each type of decay is typically accompanied by the emission of gamma rays. These unstable atoms are called radionuclides their emissions are called ionizing radiation and the whole property is called radioactivity. Transformation or decay results in the formation of new nuclides some of which may themselves be radionuclides, while others are stable nuclides. This series of transformations is called the decay chain of the radionuclide. The first radionuclide in the chain is called the parent the subsequent products of the transformation are called progeny, daughters, or decay products. 

Cancer is the major latent harmful effect produced by ionizing radiation and the one that most people exposed to radiation are concerned about. The ability of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation to produce cancer in virtually every tissue and organ in laboratory animals has been well-demonstrated. The development of cancer is not an immediate effect. In humans, radiation-induced leukemia has the shortest latent period at 2 years, while other radiation induced cancers have latent periods >20 years. The mechanism by which cancer is induced in living cells is complex and is a topic of intense study. Exposure to ionizing radiation can produce cancer at any site within the body however, some sites appear to be more common than others, such as the breast, lung, stomach, and thyroid. 

BEIRIV. 1988. Health risks of radon and other internally deposited alpha emitters. Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiations, National Research Council. Washington, DC National Academy Press. 

McClure, TD and Liebler, DC, 1995. Electron capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass-spectrometry analysis of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and their oxidation products. J Mass Spectrom 30, 1480-1488. 

Wattiez R et al. Human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein two-dimensional database study of interstitial lung diseases. Electrophoresis 2000 21 2703-2712. Yanagida M et al. Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry analysis of proteins detected by anti-phosphotyrosine antibody on two-dimensional-gels of fibrolast cell lysates after tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulation. Electrophoresis 2000 21 1890-1898. 

The final method for constructing epidithiodiketopiperazine motifs relied on the nucleophilic thiolation of /V-acyliminium ions. Access to alpha-oxidized diketopi-perazine structures was central to this approach, and key developments were made in this regard. Schmidt first demonstrated the feasibility of this ionization approach in 1973 by conversion of proline anhydride to its diacetate using Pb(OAc)4 [42], Hydrolysis of the acetates, ionization of the hemiaminals with zinc chloride in the presence of hydrogen sulfide, and oxidation with iodine provided the epidisulfide of interest. In 1975, Matsunari reported access to alpha-methoxy diketopiperazines,... 

---