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1 Principles of Nuclear Chemistry

2 Essential Textbooks in Chemistry ISBN: Orbitals: With Applications in Atomic Spectra by Charles Stuart McCaw Principles of Nuclear Chemistry by Peter A C McPherson Forthcoming Astrochemistry: From the Big Bang to the Present by Claire Vallance Atmospheric Chemistry: From the Surface to the Stratosphere by Grant Ritchie Problems of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry: A Hands-On Guide by J.M. Andrade-Garda, A. Carolsena-Zubieta, M.P. Gómez-Carracedo, M.A. Maestro-Saavedra, M.C. Prieto-Blanco, and R.M. Soto-Ferreiro

3 Essential Textbooks in Chemistry Principles of Nuclear Chemistry Peter A C McPherson Belfast Metropolitan College, UK World Scientific NEW JERSEY LONDON SINGAPORE BEIJING SHANGHAI HONG KONG TAIPEI CHENNAI TOKYO

4 Published by World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd. 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE Head office: 5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite , Hackensack, NJ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: McPherson, Peter A. C., author. Title: Principles of nuclear chemistry / Peter A.C. McPherson (Belfast Metropolitan College, UK). Description: New Jersey : World Scientific, Series: Essential textbooks in chemistry Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN ISBN (hc : alk. paper) ISBN (pbk : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Nuclear chemistry. Classification: LCC QD601.3.M DDC 541/.38--dc23 LC record available at British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Copyright 2017 by World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the Publisher. For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher. Desk Editors: Herbert Moses/Mary Simpson Typeset by Stallion Press enquiries@stallionpress.com Printed in Singapore

5 Preface There are few words in the English language which can elicit quite as dramatic a response as the word nuclear. It has become synonymous with weapons of mass destruction, environmental pollution and any number of science fiction scenarios. Of course, the reality is that we are surrounded by nuclear events every day casting a glance up into the sky we see the result of nuclear reactions within the Earth s Sun which sustains all life on Earth. Those of us involved in nuclear chemistry have traditionally occupied somewhat of a minority. However, in recent years, the traditional boundaries between the disciplines of science have become increasingly blurred and this is to be commended we are a community of scientists rather than chemists, physicists, and biologists. This drawing together of scientific disciplines has been at the forefront of the author s mind in writing this book. The aim of this text is to provide an overview of the theory and application of nuclear chemistry, without necessarily becoming too involved in mathematics. It will be of use to those taking undergraduate courses in chemistry, biochemistry and the applied disciplines; it may also be of use to those working in radiochemistry or involved in radiopharmacy. I have sought to provide as clear examples as possible when dealing with the mathematical aspects of the subject. End-of-chapter questions which are calculation-based have worked solutions at the end of the text. Also, some additional mathematical information and more lengthy derivations are given in the Appendixes for those who are interested. The majority of this text has been used in the teaching of nuclear chemistry and medical physics to undergraduates, as well as general chemistry and physical chemistry classes. As is often the case, we learn a v

6 vi Principles of Nuclear Chemistry great deal from our students understanding of a subject, and their feedback over the years has been invaluable. I would also like to express my gratitude to my colleagues at Belfast Metropolitan College, Queen s University, and the University of Oxford for answering queries and providing moral support. I have no doubt that some errors will have escaped my notice; eagle-eyed readers are encouraged to contact me with their comments. As Petronius said in the Satyricon... nothing pleases everyone: this man gathers thorns, that one roses. Hopefully, you ll find something of use within this text more roses than thorns. Peter McPherson

7 About the Author Dr Peter McPherson is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Belfast Metropolitan College where he also serves as the Curriculum Manager for Applied Science. Since his early days in industry, he has been involved in the analytical applications of radioisotopes and is currently collaborating in a radiopharmaceuticals project. His teaching interests focus on physical chemistry and he has recently developed an online course in Nuclear Chemistry for undergraduates. He has previously published Practical Volumetric Analysis (RSC Publishing). vii

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9 Contents Preface v About the Author vii Chapter 1. Concepts in Physics 1 Chapter 2. The Structure of the Atom 29 Chapter 3. The Structure of the Nucleus 53 Chapter 4. Radioactive Decay 69 Chapter 5. Kinetics of Radioactive Decay 87 Chapter 6. Nuclear Reactions 103 Chapter 7. Radioactivity at Work 121 Chapter 8. The Nucleus, Spectroscopy, and Spectrometry 145 Chapter 9. Applications of Nuclear Chemistry 173 Chapter 10. Nuclear Medicine 197 Chapter 11. Chemistry of the f-block Elements 215 Chapter 12. Nuclear Power 227 ix

10 x Principles of Nuclear Chemistry Appendix A. Review of Mathematics 239 Appendix B. Solutions to Numerical Questions 243 Appendix C. Units, Fundamental Constants, and Conversion Factors 249 Further Reading 253 Index 257

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