Standard syllabus
Nuclear chemistry · Undergraduate · Chemistry
Topics
Nuclear structure and stability
- Composition of the nucleus: protons, neutrons, nuclides
- Binding energy and mass defect
- Semi-empirical mass formula (overview)
- Nuclear stability and the belt of stability
- Magic numbers and shell model (introduction)
- Radioactive decay modes: alpha, beta, gamma, positron, electron capture
- Decay chains and secular equilibrium
- Radioactive half-life and mean lifetime
- Activity units: becquerel, curie
- Natural vs artificial radioactivity
Nuclear reactions and energetics
- Q-values and energy balance in nuclear reactions
- Nuclear reaction notation and cross sections
- Neutron capture, fission, and fusion
- Chain reactions and critical mass
- Nuclear reactors: fuel, moderator, control rods
- Breeder reactors and nuclear fuel cycle
- Fusion reactions: deuterium–tritium, stellar nucleosynthesis
- Transmutation and production of radioisotopes
- Photonuclear reactions (overview)
- Conservation laws in nuclear processes
Radiation detection and measurement
- Interaction of radiation with matter
- Gas-filled detectors: ionization chambers, proportional counters
- Geiger–Müller counters
- Scintillation detectors: NaI(Tl), liquid scintillation
- Semiconductor detectors (introduction)
- Gamma spectroscopy and energy resolution
- Counting statistics: Poisson distribution
- Dead time and count rate corrections
- Radiometric dating: carbon-14, uranium-lead
- Neutron activation analysis
Radiochemistry and applications
- Isotope separation methods
- Radiolabeling techniques for tracers
- Hot atom chemistry and recoil effects
- Nuclear medicine: diagnostic and therapeutic isotopes
- PET and SPECT imaging principles
- Radiation therapy: external beam and brachytherapy
- Industrial applications: radiography, gauges, sterilization
- Environmental radioactivity and dosimetry
- Nuclear waste classification and storage
- Radiation safety: ALARA, shielding, dosimeters
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