Nuclear chemistry positron

In 1921, Irene Curie (1897-1956) began research at the Radium Institute. Five years later she married Frederic Joliot (1900-1958). a brilliant young physicist who was also an assistant at the Institute. In 1931, they began a research program in nuclear chemistry that led to several important discoveries and at least one near miss. The Joliot-Curies were the first to demonstrate induced radioactivity. They also discovered the positron, a particle that scientists had been seeking for many years. They narrowly missed finding another, more fundamental particle, the neutron. That honor went to James Chadwick in England. In 1935,... 

Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Positron and Positronium Chemistry edited by Zs. Kajcsos, B. Levay and K. Suvegh, published in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 210, 211 (1996)... 

This is the last chapter in Part I of the general chemistry review. In this chapter, we will discuss the different aspects of radioactivity. Radioactivity is a nuclear phenomenon. It results from natural nuclear instability or externally induced nuclear instability. We will limit our discussion of nuclear chemistry to the basic aspects of radioactivity involving radioactive emissions such as alpha emission, beta emission, gamma rays, positron emission, and electron capture. We will also review other ideas such as the half-lives of radioactive substances and the mass-energy equation. 

Nuclear chemistry is the study of nuclear reactions, with an emphasis on their uses in chemistry and their effects on biological systems. Nuclear chemistr) affects our lives in many ways, particularly in energy and medical applications. In radiation therapy, for example, gamma rays from a radioactive substance such as cobalt-60 are directed to cancerous tumors to destroy them. Positron emission tomography (PET) is one example of a medical diagnostic tool that relies on decay of a radioactive element injected into the body. 

One of the most recent applications of nuclear chemistry is the use of positron emission tomography (PET) in the measurement of dynamic processes in the body, such as oxygen use or blood flow. In this application, a compound is made that contains a positron-emitting nuclide such as C-11, 0-15, or N-13. The compound is injected into the body, and the patient is placed in an instrument that detects the positron emission. A computer produces a three-dimensional image of the area. 

Abstract This chapter demonstrates the applicability of positrons in nuclear chemistry and material sciences. From the very basics to highly developed spectroscopic methods, a brief outline of positron annihilation spectroscopies is given. The possibilities of these methods are emphasized, and the characteristic applications are outlined for every one of them. 

Attila Vertes (Tiirje, 1934) is a Professor Emeritus of nuclear chemistry at Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest. He studied the scattering of beta particles for his Master s thesis in 1958 and has been dealing with different topics of nuclear chemistry ever since (e.g., Mossbauer and positron annihilation spectroscopy). 

JOLIOT-CURIE. IRENE 11897-195ft. A French nuclear scientist who won the Nohel prize for chemistry with her husband Frederick Joliet-Curie. Their joint work involved production of artiliciul radioactive elements by using t/-rays to bombard boron. They discovered that hydrogen-containing material when exposed to what they considered p rays would emit protons. Tliev were involved in many firsts they gave Ihe first chemical proof of aitillcial transmutation and of capture of alpha particles, and were the firsi to prepare positron emitter. Her career started with a Sc.D. at the Univ ersity of Paris, and included scores of honors and awards. 

C-Labelled phosgene is a useful material in radiopharmaceutical and nuclear medical applications, since it combines the radiophysical properties of C with the extensive reaction chemistry of phosgene to permit the rapid synthesis of a wide range of biologically-active materials with radiochemical labels. Carbon-11 is a short-lived positron-emitting radionucleide, useful for in vivo measurements with positron emission tomography (PET) [519], Because of... 

Gatley SJ (1996) Positron radiopharmaceutical agents and their chemistry. In Henkin RE, Boles MA, DUlehay GL, Halama JR, Karesh SM, Wagner RH, Zimmer AM (eds) Nuclear medicine. Mosby, St Louis, pp 429-444... 

The results and developments attained in this field are indicated by the several hundred publications, including a number of reviews and monographs, which have appeared [De 53, Fe 56, Go 68a, Go 71a, Gr 64, Wa 60], and by the numerous international conferences dealing with the results achieved in this new research field [Po 67, Pr 71, Pr 75, Pr 79]. The annihilation of positrons is dealt with by researchers in numerous branches of science, such as nuclear physics, solid-state physics, chemistry and biology, and useful information has been obtained. The method has recently also been employed in the field of solution studies. 

In Section 10.1, we discussed the simplest fusion reaction [Equation (10.1)] in which a beta-plus particle—that is, a positron (+i )—is a product. Other common nuclear and subnuclear particles are given in Table 10.1. Having discussed the discovery and some of the chemistry of deuterium and tritium, we are now ready to take a closer look at nuclear processes, particularly those related to hydrogen. 

Compounds labeled with isotopes have played an important role in chemistry, biology, and medicine since they were first used as tracers by Hevesey. - Both stable - and radioactive isotopes were utilized in early investigations, but the situation changed dramatically with the invention of the cyclotron by Lawrence in 1930 and the construction of the nuclear reactor by Fermi in 1942 that enabled access to radioisotopes on a regular basis. Radioisotope use in medicine was also accelerated by advances in radiation-detection techniques. The development of single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) " and positron emission tomography revolutionized... 

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