Nuclear and Radiochemistry

30 lessons, pages 4071–4100.

  1. Radiochemistry as a Discipline — How nuclear properties shape chemical investigation
  2. The Nuclear Landscape and the Chart of Nuclides — Reading N against Z, isotopes, isotones and isobars
  3. Mass Defect and Nuclear Binding Energy — Converting missing mass into energy with E = mc²
  4. The Binding Energy per Nucleon Curve — Why iron-56 and nickel-62 sit near the peak
  5. The Semi-Empirical Mass Formula — Volume, surface, Coulomb, asymmetry and pairing terms
  6. The Valley of Stability and Decay Modes — Predicting beta-minus, beta-plus and alpha decay from position
  7. Magic Numbers and the Nuclear Shell Model — Closed shells, doubly magic nuclei and spin-orbit coupling
  8. Q-Values and the Energetics of Decay — Using atomic masses to decide whether a decay is allowed
  9. Alpha Decay and Quantum Tunnelling — The Coulomb barrier and the Geiger–Nuttall relationship
  10. Beta Decay, Neutrinos and Energy Spectra — Continuous beta spectra and the weak interaction
  11. Gamma Emission, Isomers and Internal Conversion — De-excitation pathways and metastable states such as technetium-99m
  12. First-Order Decay Kinetics — Deriving N = N₀e^(−λt) and relating λ to half-life
  13. Activity, Specific Activity and Mean Lifetime — Becquerels, A = λN and activity per unit mass
  14. Parent–Daughter Kinetics and the Bateman Equations — Growth and decay of an intermediate nuclide
  15. Secular and Transient Equilibrium — Radionuclide generators and equal activities in chains
  16. Counting Statistics and Measurement Uncertainty — Poisson statistics, background correction and dead time
  17. Detectors for Radiochemical Analysis — Gas-filled, scintillation and semiconductor detectors compared
  18. Nuclear Reactions and Their Notation — Projectile–target notation, conservation laws and reaction Q-values
  19. Neutron Capture and Nuclear Cross-Sections — The barn, thermal neutrons and activation of stable nuclides
  20. Fission: Energetics and Product Distribution — The liquid-drop picture, fission yields and delayed neutrons (conceptual)
  21. Fusion and Nucleosynthesis — Stellar burning, the s- and r-processes and element origins
  22. Artificial Elements and Radionuclide Production — Cyclotrons, reactors and the synthesis of transuranium elements
  23. Radiotracers and Isotope Dilution — Following atoms through systems and quantifying by dilution
  24. Radiotracers in Mechanism and Biochemistry — Isotopic labelling to probe pathways and exchange
  25. Radiopharmaceuticals and Medical Imaging — PET and SPECT tracers and the chemistry of labelling
  26. Radiometric Dating Methods Compared — Isochrons, potassium–argon and uranium–lead systems
  27. Interaction of Radiation with Matter — Linear energy transfer, attenuation and radiolysis of water
  28. Dose Quantities and Biological Effects — Gray, sievert, weighting factors and deterministic versus stochastic effects
  29. Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste — ALARA, shielding principles and managing nuclear waste
  30. Nuclear and Radiochemistry: Unit Review — Connecting stability, kinetics, reactions, tracers and safety