Nuclear chemistry applications

The discovery of X rays in 1895 initiated a series of breakthroughs in understanding atomic nuclei. Today, nuclear chemistry applications involving medicine, weaponry, and energy affect the lives of people worldwide. 

Numerous separation methods of the types cited in Chapter 3 were developed and applied in radioanalytical chemistry during the past century. The hrst 30 years were devoted mostly to nuclear chemistry applications for identifying and characterizing the naturally occurring radionuclides. In the following years, attention shifted to the man-made ones these activities continue, as exemplified by the work described in Chapter 16. Currently, many methods are devoted to monitoring radionuclides in the environment, facility effluent, process streams, and workers. 

Another area where controlled-potential coulometry has found application is in nuclear chemistry, in which elements such as uranium and polonium can be determined at trace levels. Eor example, microgram quantities of uranium in a medium of H2SO4 can be determined by reducing U(VI) to U(IV) at a mercury working electrode. 

Choppin, G. Rydberg, J. "Nuclear Chemistry. Theory and Applications" Pergamon Press London, 1980. 

Bishop, R. L., Western Lowland Maya Ceramic Trade An Archaeological Application of Nuclear Chemistry and Geological Data Analysis, PhD Thesis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1975. 

Nuclear chemistry nuclear equations, half-lives, and radioactivity chemical applications... 

Contents Introduction. - Experimental Techniques Production of Energetic Atoms. Radiochemical Separation Techniques. Special Physical Techniques. - Characteristics of Hot Atom Reactions Gas Phase Hot Atom Reactions. Liquid Phase Hot Atom Reactions. Solid Phase Hot Atom Reactions. - Applications of Hot Atom Chemistry and Related Topics Applications in Inorganic, Analytical and Geochemistry. Applications in Physical Chemistry. Applications in Biochemistry and Nuclear Medicine. Hot Atom Chemistry in Energy-Related Research. Current Topics Related to Hot Atom Chemistry and Future Scope. - Subject Index. 

Choppin, G.R. and Rydberg, J. (1983) Nuclear chemistry - its theory and applications, Pergamon Press, UK. 

The chemistry of rhenium(I) is dominated by organometallic compounds which are not covered by this review. Thus, cyclopentadienyl and related compounds, where the organometallic part of the molecule dominate the properties will generally not be considered. Nevertheless, compounds with carbonyl or isocyanide co-ligands will be treated when they can be regarded as constituents of a typical coordination compound or the compounds are of fundamental interest in a radiopharmaceutical context such as the hexakis(isocyanide)rhenium(I) cations. For the same reason a separate section has been included which gives a brief summary of recent attempts to develop synthetic routes to tiicarbonylrhenium(I) complexes for nuclear medical applications. 

Elemental boron is used in very diverse industries from metallurgy (qv) to electronics. Other areas of application include ceramics (qv), propulsion, pyrotechnics, and nuclear chemistry. Boron is nontoxic. Workplace hygienic practices, however, include avoiding the breathing of boron dust or fine powder. 

Nuclear chemistry consists of a four-pronged endeavor made up of (a) studies of the chemical and physical properties of the heaviest elements where detection of radioactive decay is an essential part of the work, (b) studies of nuclear properties such as structure, reactions, and radioactive decay by people trained as chemists, (c) studies of macroscopic phenomena (such as geochronology or astrophysics) where nuclear processes are intimately involved, and (d) the application of measurement techniques based upon nuclear phenomena (such as nuclear medicine, activation analysis or radiotracers) to study scientific problems in a variety of fields. The principal activity or mainstream of nuclear chemistry involves those activities listed under part (b). 

A frequently asked question is What are the differences between nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry Clearly, the two endeavors overlap to a large extent, and in recognition of this overlap, they are collectively referred to by the catchall phrase nuclear science. But we believe that there are fundamental, important distinctions between these two fields. Besides the continuing close ties to traditional chemistry cited above, nuclear chemists tend to study nuclear problems in different ways than nuclear physicists. Much of nuclear physics is focused on detailed studies of the fundamental interactions operating between subatomic particles and the basic symmetries governing their behavior. Nuclear chemists, by contrast, have tended to focus on studies of more complex phenomena where statistical behavior is important. Nuclear chemists are more likely to be involved in applications of nuclear phenomena than nuclear physicists, although there is clearly a considerable overlap in their efforts. Some problems, such as the study of the nuclear fuel cycle in reactors or the migration of nuclides in the environment, are so inherently chemical that they involve chemists almost exclusively. 

One application of these equations in nuclear chemistry involves the decay of rapidly moving particles. The muon, a heavy electron, has a lifetime, t, at rest, of 2.2 p,s. When the particle has a kinetic energy of 100 GeV (as found in cosmic rays), we observe a lifetime of yT or about 103t. (This phenomenon is called time dilation and explains why such muons can reach the surface of Earth.)... 

Ehmann, W. D. and D. E. Vance. Radiochemistry and Nuclear Methods of Analysis, Wiley, New York, 1991. An up-to-date survey of nuclear chemistry that emphasizes its applications in analytical chemistry. 

Choppin, G. R., J. O. Liljenzin, and J. Rydberg. Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry, 3rd ed., Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford, 2001. A very good, broad discussion of nuclear chemistry that is oriented toward nuclear power and nuclear power applications. 

As an application of the Schrodinger equation, expressed in spherical coordinates, to a problem of interest in nuclear chemistry, let us consider the problem of a particle in an infinite spherical well (Fig. E.7). This potential can be defined as... 

We have attempted to present nuclear chemistry and the associated applications at a level suitable for an advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate student. We have assumed the student has prior or, concurrent instruction in physical chemistry or modem physics and has some skills in handling differential equations. We have attempted to sprinkle solved problems throughout the text, as we believe that one learns by working problems. The end-of-the-chapter homework problems... 

Haissinsky, M. Nuclear Chemistry and its Applications (English ed.), Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1964), p. 233. 

In the past ten years the number of chemistry-related research problems in the nuclear industry has increased dramatically. Many of these are related to surface or interfacial chemistry. Some applications are reviewed in the areas of waste management, activity transport in coolants, fuel fabrication, component development, reactor safety studies, and fuel reprocessing. Three recent studies in surface analysis are discussed in further detail in this paper. The first concerns the initial corrosion mechanisms of borosilicate glass used in high level waste encapsulation. The second deals with the effects of residual chloride contamination on nuclear reactor contaminants. Finally, some surface studies of the high temperature oxidation of Alloys 600 and 800 are outlined such characterizations are part of the effort to develop more protective surface films for nuclear reactor applications. ... 

Wojnarovits, L.In Handbook of Nuclear Chemistry. Chemical Applications of Nuclear Reactions and Radiations-, Vertes, A. Nagy, S. Klencsar, Z., Eds. Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht, 2003 Vol. 3, pp 1-55. 

Oxides and oxide hydroxides of Tc and Re are typically formed in an O2/H2O containing gas phase. They were extensively studied, mostly using the method of thermochromatography [56-67]. The technique has also been applied to develop Tc and Re generator systems for nuclear medical applications [68,69]. In their works, M. Schadel et al. [70] and R. Eichler et al. [53] studied the oxide and the oxide hydroxide chemistry of trace amounts of Re in an 02/H20-containing system with respect to its suitability for a first gas chemical identification of Bh. They investigated the behavior... 

Haissinsky, M. 1964. Nuclear chemistry and its applications. Reading, MA Addison-Wesley. Havlin, J. L., and D. G. Westfall. 1985. Potassium release kinetics and plant response in calcareous soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 49 366-370. 

The chemistry of heterogeneous systems is far from restricted to nuclear technological applications. In heterogeneous catalysis, corrosion science, surface polymerization, biochemistry and many industrial applications such as liquid-liquid extraction, interfacial processes are of vital importance. In nuclear technological applications, the presence of ionizing radiation increases the complexity further. 

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