For CHEM 418 we have organized a tour of the cyclotron on campus for Monday 4 March at 1000. As this time is outside our normal class time please confirm your availability in the blog below.
During the tour you will be able to visit an isotope production facility and be introduced to ongoing research on campus. For those interested in exploring research opportunities this is an excellent time to obtain information and meet those performing studies.
The tour information is available.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 16 In reactor chemistry
This lecture provides an overview of nuclear reactors and describes the chemistry of actinides and fission products in reactors. A broad overview of nuclear reactors is provided. The essential components of a reactor, fuel, cladding, coolant, and moderators, are described. Characteristics of reactor materials and nuclear fuels are given. A summary of reactor types, generally classified on coolant properties, is provided. The chemistry of nuclear fuel is provided, with an emphasis placed on understanding the 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. The lecture is in two parts. Part 1 is length is 36 minutes, part 2 is 32 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Saturday 2 March 2019 and due Saturday 9 March 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blog and respond to the Lecture 16 PDF quiz
Saturday, February 23, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 15 Am and Cm chemistry
This lecture introduces the chemistry of americium and curium. Both elements are discussed due to their similar chemical behavior, particularly in separations. However, important differences in their chemistry are highlighted. For americium pentavalent and hexavalent species are achievable. For curium, its unique fluorescence properties are highlighted. The nuclear properties of americium and curium isotopes are provided. Isotope production focus on those formed from multiple neutron capture. These isotopes, 241Am, 243Am, 244Cm and 248Cm, are used to explore americium and curium chemistry. The basic solution chemistry is described, along with implications for fuel cycle separations. Methods for the separation of americium and curium are provided, including solvent extractions, anion exchange, precipitation, and molten salt techniques. Synthesis and characterization of americium and curium metals, alloys, and compounds are provided, with emphasis placed on those compounds of importance to the nuclear fuel cycle. The non-aqueous and coordination chemistry of these elements are introduced. The limited available data offers an avenue for novel explorations and future research directions. The lecture is in 2 parts; part 1 is 29 minutes and part 2 is 29 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Wednesday 27 February 2019 and due Wednesday 6 March 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blogand respond to the Lecture 15 PDF quiz. The answers to the Lecture 15 PDF quiz will be posted Thursday 7 March 2018.
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 14 Plutonium Chemistry
This lecture provides basic information on the chemistry of plutonium. Discussion on the nuclear properties of 238Pu and 239Pu are included. Environmental concentrations of plutonium, including244Pu and naturally produced 239Pu, are discussed. Large scale plutonium separations are presented, emphasizing the PUREX process. The use of volatility and ion exchange as plutonium separation techniques are also given. The synthesis and properties are metallic plutonium are described in detail. An review of metal preparation methods are provided, including the plutonium-gallium phase diagram. The physical properties of plutonium metal are given and discussed. The solution chemistry of plutonium is depicted though coordination and spectroscopy as a function of oxidation state. Examples are provided on various nature of plutonium chemistry in the tributylphosphate-nitric acid system and colloids. The non-aqueous chemistry of plutonium is described and related to electronic structure. The lecture is in 3 parts; part 1 is 38 minutes, part 2 is 38 minutes, and part 3 is 37 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Saturday 23 February 2019 and due Sunday 3 March 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment respond to the Lecture 14 PDF quiz. The answers to the Lecture 14 PDF quiz will be posted Monday 4 March 2019.
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 13 Neptunium Chemistry
Neptunium chemistry is covered in this lecture. Nuclear properties and synthesis of neptunium are described, with emphasis placed on the isotopes 235-239Np. The synthesis and properties of neptunium metal, alloys, and intermetallic compounds are introduced. The lecture describes neptunium compound synthesis, with resulting thermodynamic and structural properties provided. Neptunium organometallic and coordination compounds are also presented. Information on neptunium solution speciation, redox, and spectroscopy is given, with trends based on oxidation state examined. A presentation of analytical methods useful in neptunium chemistry, including Mรถssbauer spectroscopy, concludes the lecture. Comparisons are made with uranium chemistry to provide trends in the actinides. The lecture length is 26 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Sunday 17 February 2019 and due Friday 22 February 2018. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blog and respond to the Lecture 13 PDF quiz
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 12 Uranium Chemistry
Uranium chemistry is covered in this lecture with an emphasis on separations and synthesis for the nuclear fuel cycle. The solution chemistry of uranium is explored, focusing on uranyl. The molecular orbital of uranium is described. Separation of uranium by solvent extraction and ion exchange is presented. The enrichment of uranium from the uranium hexafluoride species is discussed, including diffusion, centrifuge, and laser methods. Oxide species of uranium are presented. Due to its potential as a nuclear fuel, the synthesis and properties of uranium metal and alloys are described in detail. With three different phase, the uranium metal exhibits more complex electronic behavior than the metals of the lighter actinides, a trend that continues to plutonium metal. The lecture is in two parts; part 1 is 45 minutes and part 2 is 34 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Thursday 14 February 2019 and due Wednesday 20 February 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blog and respond to the Lecture 12 PDF quiz. The answers to the Lecture 12 PDF quiz will be posted Thursday 21 February 2019.
The lecture is assigned on Thursday 14 February 2019 and due Wednesday 20 February 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the blog and respond to the Lecture 12 PDF quiz. The answers to the Lecture 12 PDF quiz will be posted Thursday 21 February 2019.
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry Winter 2019 Exam 2
Assigned: 16-Feb-19
1st Due Date: 21-Feb-19
2nd Due Date: 24-Feb-19
Topics:
Lecture 6: Gamma Decay
Lecture 7: Fission
Lecture 8: Nuclear Force and Nuclear
Structure
Lecture 9: Nuclear Reactions
Lecture 10: Radiation
Interactions
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. For the 2nd submission show your
work and references on a separate page. Please use 3 significant digits for your
answers.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 11 Chemical Speciation
This lecture covers fundamentals of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, mainly as a review. 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 using EXCEL and the program CHESS are presented. The lecture is 49 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Sunday 10 February 2019 and due Friday 15 February 2019. When you have completed the lecture please respond to the Lecture 11 PDF quiz. Answers will be posted 16 February 2019.
Friday, February 8, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 10 Radiation Interactions
This lecture, in 2 parts, covers interaction of radiation with matter and includes fundamental interactions, particle ranges, dosimetry, and hot atom chemistry. Interaction of radiation with matter covers energy loss and reactions with charged particles and photons. The stopping power of charged particles in different material is covered, including calculations on energy loss with thickness. Electron backscattering is introduced with examples on different behavior with varied elements. Discussion on photon interaction includes photoelectric effect, Compton effect, and pair production. 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. A review of hot atom chemistry is given. Part 1 is 28 minutes, part 2 is 40 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Thursday 7 February and due Tuesday 12 February.
Monday, February 4, 2019
CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2019: Lecture 9 Nuclear Reactions
The lecture on nuclear reactions is presented in two parts. Nuclear reaction notation is introduced. The role of energetics in nuclear reactions is discussed and evaluated, including Q value, reaction barriers, and threshold energy. Center of mass and laboratory frames are discussed. The different processes involved in the formation of isotopes is provided including photonuclear processes. Reaction energetics, mechanisms and types are described. Nuclear reaction cross sections are described, with a presentation on values and limits given. This includes role of angular momentum in cross section values. The stellar production of elements is presented in terms of nuclear reactions. These provide the basis for understanding the formation of isotopes in stars. Part one is 27 minutes, part 2 is 36 minutes.
The lecture is assigned on Sunday 3 February 2019 and due Friday 8 February 2019. When you have completed the lecture please comment on the Lecture 9 PDF quiz. The answers to the Lecture 9 PDF quiz will be posted Saturday 9 February 2019.
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