Applications of Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear chemistry has many applications in
agriculture, medicine, industry and research. They
greatly improve the day to day quality of our lives.
Since the discovery of nuclear chemistry, its
applications have been and continue to be
numerous. Among them, the best known is the
production of electricity. However, there are many
other applications in other fields. Many of these
applications are unknown to the public.
Radioactive Dating using C-14
Radioactive dating is a method that provides
objective age estimates for carbon-based materials
that originated from living organisms. An age could
be estimated by measuring the amount of carbon-14
present in the sample
Radiocarbon (carbon 14) is an
isotope of the element carbon that is unstable and
weakly radioactive. The stable isotopes are carbon
12 and carbon 13. Archaeology and other human
sciences use radiocarbon dating to prove or
disprove theories.
NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY IN MEDICINE
Aside from the Radioactive there is also a
application of nuclear chemistry in medicine
whereas TREATMENT OF CANCERS, Radiology
and Radioactive Tracers, Medical Laboratory
procedures in
Treatment of Cancers
Radioisotopes have found extensive use
in diagnosis and therapy, and this has given rise to a
rapidly growing field called nuclear medicine. These
radioactive isotopes have proven particularly
effective as tracers in certain diagnostic procedures.
Radiotherapy used to treat some
medical conditions, especially cancer, using
radiation to weaken or destroy particular targeted
cells.
Radiology and Radioactive Tracers (cardiology)
The emissions from the radiotracers are detected by
the imaging device, which provides pictures and
molecular information. The superimposition of
nuclear medicine images with computed tomography
(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
can provide comprehensive views to aid diagnosis.
An advantage of nuclear over X-ray techniques is
that both bone and soft tissue can be imaged very
successfully.
Medical Laboratory procedures
Hospitals use gamma radiation to sterilise medical
products and supplies such as syringes, gloves,
clothing, and instruments that would otherwise be
damaged by heat sterilisation.
Many medical products today are sterilised by
gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source, a technique
which generally is much cheaper and more effective
than steam heat sterilisation. The disposable syringe
is an example of a product sterilised by gamma rays.
Because it is a 'cold' process, radiation can be used
to sterilise a range of heat-sensitive items such as
powders, ointments, and solutions, as well as
biological preparations such as bone, nerve,
skin, etc, used in tissue grafts.
• Nuclear Chemistry in Agriculture Plant
Mutation Breeding
• A process of exposing the seeds or cuttings of a
given plant to radiation, such as gamma rays, to
cause mutations. Radiation essentially
enhances the natural process of spontaneous
genetic mutation. A process of marker-assisted
selection (or molecular-marker assisted
breeding) is used to identify desirable traits
based on genes. The use of radiation essentially
enhances the natural process of spontaneous
genetic mutation, significantly shortening the
time it takes.
Nuclear/Fission Reactors for Electrical Power
The energy released from continuous fission of the
atoms of the fuel is harnessed as heat in either a
gas or water, and is used to produce steam. The
steam is used to drive the turbines which produce
electricity (as in most fossil fuel plants).
A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release
of energy from splitting the atoms of certain
elements. In a nuclear power reactor, the energy
released is used as heat to make steam to generate
electricity. (In a research reactor the main purpose is
to utilise the actual neutrons produced in the core. In
most naval reactors, steam drives a turbine directly
for propulsion.
Defensive and Offensive Weapons
Nuclear Weapon is a Weapons of mass destruction,
which can produce destruction in a much shorter
time and can have a long-lasting radiological warfare
result
• Nuclear Chemistry in Industry
Industrial Tracers
VOICE OVER: Radioisotopes are used by
manufacturers as tracers to monitor fluid flow and
filtration, detect leaks, and gauge engine wear and
corrosion of process equipment. Small
concentrations of short-lived isotopes can be
detected whilst no residues remain in the
environment. By adding small amounts of
radioactive substances to materials used in various
processes it is possible to study the mixing and flow
rates of a wide range of materials, including liquids,
powders and gases, and to locate leaks.
