Cementing Radioactive Waste

Cement would make a useful material for locking away radioactive waste except for the fact that conventional cement is susceptible to weathering. When water infiltrates its pores, it freezes and when it thaws, the resulting cracks can fracture the cement blocks. Moreover, adding foreign materials to the standard cement slows the hydration process required for the mix to harden leading to greater porosity and an increased risk of radioactive elements leaching out through long-term wear and tear.

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Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry is the sub-discipline of chemistry that is concerned with changes in the nucleus of elements. These changes are the source of radioactivity and nuclear power. Since radioactivity is associated with nuclear power generation, the concomitant disposal of radioactive waste, and some medical procedures, everyone should have a fundamental understanding of radioactivity and nuclear transformations in order to evaluate and discuss these issues intelligently and objectively. For more details click here. 

courtesy: http://nnhschemistry.pbworks.com

Courtesy: http://www.sas.upenn.edu

Nuclear Chemistry

An atom consists of an extremely small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Although typically the nucleus is less than one ten-thousandth the size of the atom, the nucleus contains more than 99.9% of the mass of the atom! Nuclei consist of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons held together by the so-called strong or nuclear force. Read more here.

Courtesy: http://www.lbl.gov/abc

Isotope, Isobar and Isotone

1. Isotope: Atoms or ions of an element with different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nucleus. Isotopes have the same atomic number but different mass number. Isotopes have very similar chemical properties but sometimes differ greatly in nuclear stability.



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2. Isobar: Nuclides that have the same isotopic mass but different atomic number. 

3. Isotone: A group of atoms or ions with nuclei that contain the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons. 



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Nuclear Reactors | Nuclear Power Plant | Nuclear Reactor Technology

Nuclear Reactors | Nuclear Power Plant | Nuclear Reactor Technology

Courtesy: http://www.world-nuclear.org

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Top: Uranium-235 combines with a neutron to form an unstable intermediate, which quickly splits into barium-144 and krypton-89 plus three neutrons in the process of nuclear fission. Bottom: Deuterium and tritium combine by nuclear fusion to form helium plus a neutron.

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Courtesy: http://www.britannica.com

Nuclide chart – Enhanced knowledge of the elements\' radioactivity - News & events - JRC - European Commission

Nuclide chart – Enhanced knowledge of the elements\' radioactivity - News & events - JRC - European Commission: 

New edition of the Karlsruhe nuclide chart

Alpha, Beta and Gamma rays deflection

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X-ray Radiation

X-rays are produced as a result of changes in the positions of the electrons orbiting the nucleus, as the electrons shift to different energy levels. 

Courtesy: University of Michigan, Student Chapter of the Health Physics Society

Alpha, Beta and Gamma ray penetration

 

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