Development and Implementation of Nuclear Chemistry Experiments at the Undergraduate Level

Autor/inn/en	Konkankit, Chilaluck C.; Marker, Sierra C.; Bigham, Nicholas P.; Dale, Darren S.; Zax, David B.; Lorey, Daniel R., II; Wilson, Justin J.
Titel	Development and Implementation of Nuclear Chemistry Experiments at the Undergraduate Level
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 98 (2021) 12, S.3831-3840 (10 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Konkankit, Chilaluck C.) ORCID (Wilson, Justin J.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
DOI	10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00626
Schlagwörter	Science Experiments; Science Instruction; Chemistry; Nuclear Energy; Undergraduate Study; College Science; Hands on Science; Science Laboratories; Laboratory Experiments; Science Process Skills; Laboratory Safety; Laboratory Equipment; Student Attitudes; New York + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Chemie; Atomenergie; Kernenergie; Grundstudium; Laboratory work; Laborarbeit; Laborausstattung; Schülerverhalten
Abstract	There currently exists a significant deficiency in the nuclear chemistry workforce within the United States, despite its importance in areas of medicine, national security, and energy. Poor coverage of this topic across many chemistry departments at the undergraduate level likely contributes to this shortage. Increasing interest and hands-on experience through the availability of laboratory experiments may help alleviate this burden. Herein, we describe a set of nuclear chemistry experiments designed for undergraduate students that can be readily implemented in chemistry departments without specialized programs in this area. These experiments emphasize several concepts related to safe work practices with radioactive materials, such as the effects of distance and shielding. Additionally, the use of a commercially available radionuclide generator was implemented to have students identify an "unknown" radionuclide based on its measured half-life and gamma ([gamma]) spectrum. This laboratory experiment was carried out by two chemistry courses at Cornell University. Student feedback obtained from these sections showed that this hands-on experiment enhanced student understanding of several key concepts of nuclear chemistry and also successfully stimulated interest in this topic. Therefore, this study demonstrates that simple nuclear chemistry laboratory experiments can be implemented in a diverse range of chemistry departments and are effective at fostering student understanding and interest in this topic. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01