CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2018: Final Exam

The final exam for CHEM 418 is due 17-Mar-18.  The questions are designed to stimulate a broad utilization of course material. The exam is a word document.  Provide the answers and return as an e-mail attachment or through the Canvas site.  Post any questions to this blog.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry Winter 2018 Exam 3

Assigned: 6-Mar-18                                                                  

1^st Due Date: 10-Mar-18

2^nd Due Date:  13-Mar-18             

                                                           

Lecture 11:  Speciation Lecture 12:  Uranium chemistry Lecture 13:  Neptunium chemistry Lecture 14:  Plutonium chemistry Lecture 15:  Americium and Curium chemistry

Lecture 16:  Chemistry in reactor fuel Lecture 17:  Separations Lecture 18:  Application of Nuclear Material Lecture 19:  Nuclear Forensics

Use lecture notes, textbooks, Chart of the Nuclides, Table of the Isotopes, and web pages.  Use the chart of the nuclides as your primary dataset for isotope half-life.   Show your work or references on a separate page and save electronically.  Submission of the work is not required for the 1^st due date.  Please use 3 significant digits for your answers.  For scientific notation please use X.XXEX (i.e, 1230 as 1.23E3)

Office hours for Exam 3 will be on Friday 9 March from 1030 to 1200 in Bagley 303A.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2018: Lecture 19 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. The lecture is 40 minutes.

The lecture is assigned Tuesday 6 March 2018.  The answers to PDF Quiz 19 will be posted on Monday 12 March 2018.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2018: Lecture 18 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.  The lecture is in 2 parts.  Part 1 is 29 minutes, part 2 is 32 minutes. 

The lecture is assigned on Thursday 1 March 2018 and due Friday 9 March 2018.  The answers to the Lecture 18 PDF quiz will be posted Saturday 10 March 2018.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2018: Lecture 17 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 separations are provided. Part 1 is 40 minutes, part 2 is 40 minutes, part 3 is 24 minutes, and part 4 is 30 minutes.  Part 4 is a summation lecture on transuranic separations that are drawn from the Np, Pu, Am, and Cm lectures. Part 4 is meant as a review and provides a compilation of separation methods, the bulk can be skipped, but examples of questions are provided at the end of the lecture. 

The lecture is assigned on Tuesday 27 February 2018 and due Tuesday 6 March 2018. The answers to the Lecture 17 PDF quiz will be posted Wednesday 7 March 2018.  A bonus question from this lecture, where has the PUREX process been used in Washington State.  You can answer in the quiz or on the blog.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2018: Lecture 17 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 separations are provided. Part 1 is 40 minutes, part 2 is 40 minutes, part 3 is 24 minutes, and part 4 is 30 minutes.  Part 4 is a summation lecture on transuranic separations that are drawn from the Np, Pu, Am, and Cm lectures. Part 4 is meant as a review and provides a compilation of separation methods, the bulk can be skipped, but examples of questions are provided at the end of the lecture. 

The lecture is assigned on Tuesday 27 February 2018 and due Tuesday 6 March 2018.  When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blog and respond to the Lecture 17 PDF quiz.  The answers to the Lecture 17 PDF quiz will be posted Wednesday 7 March 2018.