Fall 2015 Quiz 5: Separations, In-reactor chemistry, application of nuclear material, and nuclear forensics

Use the lecture notes, chart of the nuclides, table of the isotopes, and web links to answer the following questions.  

RDCH 702 Lecture 12: Nuclear Forensics

This lecture covers the utilization of radionuclide properties to determine origin, age, used, and other properties of nuclear material. These isotope properties are defined as signatures of nuclear material, and include concentrations, relative amounts, and ratios. Specific details are provided on forensic signatures related to Pu and actinide isotopics. The signatures arising from reactors, separations, and post-detonation are included. For plutonium production these signatures include reactor power, reactor type, time of irradiation, separation method, and time since separation. The signatures include plutonium isotopic mass ratios, plutonium isotopic activity ratios, and transplutonium isotope ratios. Separation signatures include evaluation of Zr, Tc, Ru, and the lanthanides, with examples using Nd isotopics. Alloys of actinide metals as signatures is also presented. 

Fall 2016 RDCH 702 Lecture 11: Application of Nuclear Material

The lecture provides examples of the use of radioactive isotopes. The methods used for isotope production are discussed. The difference between isotope production by accelerators and reactors is highlighted. Reactor isotope products are primarily neutron rich; while accelerator produced isotopes tend to be neutron poor. Isotopes used in the generation of neutrons are provided. These neutron generating sources are small with a relatively low neutron generating rate. They are used in element and compound identification. Examples of isotopes used as ionization sources are provided. The discussion focuses on the use of ²⁴¹Am for smoke detection and ⁶³Ni for explosives detection. The importance of ²³⁸Pu as a heat source is provided, with examples given for space exploration. A number of isotopes used in radiopharmaceuticals are introduced. Comparisons are given for diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. 

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 10 In reactor chemistry

This lecture describes the chemistry of actinides and fission products in reactors, primarily focusing on phases formed in nuclear fuel. The fission process is reviewed and fuel burnup discussed. Determining fission product and actinide concentration to assess burnup is introduced. The variation of fission product and actinide concentration with burnup and initial fuel composition is provided. Axial and radial distribution of activity, fission products, and actinides is discussed, highlighting the role of neutron flux and energies on the distribution. Conditions necessary for the formation of separate phases in UO₂ are shown for perovskite and metallic phases, emphasizing the role of oxygen in the process. The behavior of fission products can be grouped into 4 areas: volatile species, metallic precipitates, oxide precipitates, and solid solutions. 

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 9 Separations

A number of different separation methods for radionuclides, with an emphasis on actinides, are presented. Solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrochemical, volatility and ionic liquid methods are discussed. The fundamental concepts are provided with specific examples on the nuclear fuel cycle. Ideas and concepts for advanced separations are given. Details are provided for the different separation routes discussed. The PUREX process is described. Examples are given for TRUEX and TALSPEAK separations. Specific examples for actinide separation are provided.

Fall 2016: Quiz 4 Radiation Interaction and Isotope Production

Quiz 4

Assigned: 8 November 16

Due: 14 November 162nd Due date: 19 November 16Lecture 7 Radiation InteractionsLecture 8 Accelerators and Isotope Product

Use the lecture notes, chart of the nuclides, table of the isotopes, and web links to answer the following questions. Questions on the quiz can be posted to the blog.

Fall 2016: Lecture 8 Isotope Production

This lecture introduces the methods and means for isotope production. Accelerators are described and compared. Attention is given to the development of accelerators over time. The use of electron accelerators for synchrotrons is covered. Spectroscopic methods useful for speciation and coordination chemistry are provided, with an example for uranium. Neutron generation is discussed. Details on fission are given, including symmetric, asymmetric, and spallation sources. The lecture is 30 minutes in length.  The lecture 8 PDF quiz is due 9 November.

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 7 Radiation Interaction

This lecture covers interaction of radiation with matter. Emphasis is placed on dosimetry and hot atom chemistry. Resulting chemical reactions and effects are highlighted. Dosimetry is introduced and explored. Units of dosimetry are described. Dosimetry measurements are discussed and quality factors based on particle mass and charge are introduced. Introductory dose calculations are supplied. Radiation protection regulations and the definition of terms (ALI, DAC) are given, including levels for use in the UNLV Radiochemistry laboratories. A review of hot atom chemistry is given. The lecture is 42 minutes.  The PDF Quiz is due 31 October 16.

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Quiz 3 Electron orbitals, nuclear models, and decay kinetics

Quiz 3 covers Lecture 4 Electron orbitals and Energetics, Lecture 5 Nuclear Models, and Lecture 6 Decay Kinetics.  

Assigned 19 October 16                                             

1^st Due date:  26 October 16

2^nd Due date:  31 October 16

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 6 Decay Kinetics

This lecture covers the fundamental equations that describe the decay of radionuclides; covered in two parts. Basic equations and their utility are presented. The implications on error from counting is provided.  Equations for mixtures, equilibrium, and branching of radionuclides are covered.  The use of a program to solve the Bateman equation is presented. The use of cross sections in determining production rates are covered. Saturation in isotope production due to the decay of the daughter is described. Discussion of natural radiation and dating are given. Examples are provided using the equations under a host of conditions. These include examples for dating from ²³⁸U, ¹⁴C, and the Oklo reactor. Lecture 1 is 44 minutes, lecture 2 is 31 minutes.  The PDF quiz is due 24 October 2016.

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 5 Nuclear Models

This lecture provides supplemental information on the shell model and nuclear force. The strong force is introduced through isospin. A comparison of exchange particles is provided. The use of mirror nuclei to examine the strong force is presented. An overview of nuclear potentials is provided and used to discuss the shell model. States of the shell model and their relationship to magic numbers are discussed. Use of the shell model is determine nuclide spin and parity is presented. The relationship between spin and parity with nuclear deformation is introduced with Nilsson diagrams. Additional information on Nilsson diagrams can be found in the Table of the Isotopes, page H-6. The lecture time is 40 minutes.  The PDF Quiz for lecture 5 is due 12-Oct-16.

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Lecture 4 Electron orbitals and energetics

This lecture covers fundamentals of electron orbitals and energetics in chemical bonding. Correlations between bonding and structure are provided. Ligand field theory is reviewed. Charge transfer in metal-ligand interaction is discussed. Bonding based on molecular orbital theory is given. The utility of spectroscopy in evaluating electron interactions in bonding is presented. The lecture supplies a fundamental understanding of the chemical interactions germane to radionuclide complexes. The PDF Quiz for this lecture is assigned on 3 October 2016 and is due 5 October 2016.

Fall 2016: Quiz 2 Speciation, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics

Assigned 28 September 2016

1^st due date:  4 October 2016

2^nd due date:  7 October 2016

Quiz Topics:  Speciation, Kinetics, Thermodynamics

Use the lecture notes, chart of the nuclides, table of the isotopes, and web links to answer the following questions.  

Fall 2016: Lecture 3 Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear reaction notation is introduced. Reaction energetics, mechanisms and types are described. Nuclear reaction cross sections and their use are described. The stellar production of elements is presented in terms of nuclear reactions. The role of nuclear reactions is discussed and evaluated. The different processes involved in the formation of isotopes is provided. The relationship between nuclear and chemical properties is presented. Stellar nucleosynthesis of elements if discussed in terms of the presented nuclear reactions. This lecture is in two parts.

Fall 2016: RDCH 702 Quiz 1 Chart of the nuclides

Assigned 12-Sep-16
Due 19-Sep-16
2nd due date 22-Sep-16
Use the PDF sheet to record your answers. Save the PDF sheet to your computer. Record any work on separate pages.

Lecture 1: Chart of the nuclides
Use the chart of the nuclides, the readings on the chart of the nuclides, table of the isotopes, and web links to answer the following questions. Questions on the quiz can be posted to the blog.

Fall 2016: Lecture 2 Thermodynamics and Kinetics

This lecture covers fundamentals of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, mainly as a review. Thermodynamic laws, electrochemical reactions, and acid-base reactions are covered. The thermodynamic discussion relates to Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constants. Kinetic discussion related to its use in data analysis Emphasis of the lectures is applied to information useful for speciation modeling. Calculations and models for speciation are discussed. Equilibrium modeling examples using EXCEL and the program CHESS are presented.  Respond to the PDF Quiz 2 when complete with the blog comment. 

Fall 2016: Lecture 1 Introduction and Chart of the Nuclides

The class outcomes are discussed. The main goal of the class, to provide students with the fundamental information for the exploitation of radiochemistry in research, is presented. The course grading scale and expectations are given. The Chart of the Nuclides is reviewed in detail with the front matter assigned as reading. The Table of the isotopes is introduced, with data examples presenting, include gamma decay yields. Atomic properties, nuclear nomenclature, X-rays, and types of decays are introduced. Respond to the PDF Quiz 1 when complete with the lecture.  

Fall 2016: Lecture 0 Using online lectures

A brief example of the online lecture format is presented.  The lectures are available as power point, AVI, or MOV.  Please respond to the test PDF Quiz 0.