Nuclear chemistry hydrogen bomb

Nuclear chemistry is very much in the news today. In addition TO APPLICATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ATOMIC BOMBS, HYDROGEN BOMBS, AND NEUTRON BOMBS, EVEN THE PE.A.CEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY HAS BECOME CONTROVERSIAL, IN PART BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND ALSO BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES. IN THIS CHAPTER WE WILL STUDY NUCLEAR REACTIONS, THE STABILITY OF THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS, RADIOACTIVITY, AND THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. 

This branch of chemistry began with the discovery of natural radioactivity by Antoine Becquerel and grew as a result of subsequent investigations by Pierre and Marie Curie and many others. Nuclear chemistry is very much in the news today. In addition to applications in the manufacture of atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, and neutron bombs, even the peaceful use of nuclear energy has become controversial, in part because of safety concerns about nuclear power plants and also because of problems with radioactive waste disposal. In this chapter, we wiU study nuclear reactions, the stability of the atomic nucleus, radioactivity, and the effects of radiation on biological systems. 

The study of radiation is part of nuclear chemistry. In contrast to ordinary chemistry, which involves changes with the electrons of atoms and molecules, nuclear chemistry involves changes within the nuclei of atoms. When these changes occur, the nuclei emit energetic particles that we call radiation. We will see how the chance discovery of radiation eventually led to the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. We will also study several peacetime applications of radiation such as nuclear power and nuclear medicine. 

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