2618 Nuclear Chemistry
- Page ID
- 440644
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objectives
After this “dry” exercise, students will know how to measure radiation from nuclear decay, will recognize the presence of background radiation, will determine the half-life of a radioisotope, and will determine the degree of shielding lead provides against radiation.
1.2 Background
Nuclear reactions generate three main types of radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation consists of He+2 nuclei; beta radiation consists of electrons; and gamma radiation is energy. These different forms of radiation are detected with a Geiger counter.
The experiment is performed by Linda Nuss and recorded in three you-tube videos. Further background information is provided in each video.
PART A: BACKGROUND RADIATION
Watch the following.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNVRfSPJAv0&t=169s
2.0 Safety and Waste Disposal
List three (3) safety precautions for doing nuclear chemistry (you may need to do an extra search outside of the video).
3.0 Chemicals and Solutions Used
What are the 4 sources of background radiation?
4.0 Glassware and Apparatus
What does a Geiger Counter actually count? (Hint: it isn’t the radiation.)
6.0 Data Recording Sheet and 7.0 Calculations
Collect the data from the video for the background radiation and determine the average.
PART B: DETERMINING THE HALF-LIFE OF A RADIOISOTOPE
Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43BwBAaDt0k
3.0 Chemicals and Solutions
What is the decay process being studied?
6.0 Data Recording Sheet
Record the average count of the Geiger Counter over the time period, then calculate the average minus the average background from Part A
7.0 Calculations
1. Generate the graph of ln(average count – background) versus time as shown in the video and attach it or paste it here.
2. Determine the slope of your graph, which is –k.
3. Determine the half-life, which is 0.693/k.
PART C: DETERMINING THE QUANTITY OF LEAD NECESSARY TO SHIELD AGAINST RADIATION
Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y6EGJpc-VQ
6.0 Data Collection
7.0 Calculations
Plot ln(counter reading – background) versus mm of Pb and attach the graph or paste it here.
How many mm of Pb are required to block all of the radiation from the Co-60?
(Note that ln(0) is undefined. We can use ln(1) where the counter reading is just one more than the background count.)