Nuclear chemistry

Nuclear chemistry is a special branch of science. It focuses on the tiny center of an atom called the nucleus. Some atoms are radioactive, which means they release energy through a process called decay. During decay, a nucleus might release an alpha particle. This change turns the atom into a different kind of atom.

Scientists study these changes to understand how radiation affects the world. This includes studying how radiation hits living things like plants and animals. It can change the small molecules inside a living body. This study helps doctors improve medical treatments like cancer radiotherapy.

This science also helps us manage energy and materials. It explains how nuclear reactors work and how they stay safe. Experts look at how surfaces corrode or change during normal use. They also study what happens during an accident. A big job is learning how to store nuclear waste safely. Scientists must know how materials act in a disposal site. They also use radiation to change materials like polymers. Even non-radioactive tools like NMR spectroscopy use these ideas.

Many famous scientists discovered these secrets over many years. In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen found X-rays. Later, Henri Becquerel found radioactivity in France. He saw that uranium could blacken photographic plates without any extra energy. Marie and Pierre Curie worked in Paris to find new elements. They used chemical separation to find polonium and radium. They looked for parts of the ore with high specific activity. This means they found parts where the radioactivity was very strong for its weight.

Other scientists found even more ways atoms work. Ernest Rutherford worked in Canada and England. He showed that decay follows a specific timing called a half-life. This is the time it takes for half the radioactivity to disappear. He also named alpha, beta, and gamma rays. In 1934, Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie created artificial radioactivity. They did this by hitting boron with alpha particles. Later, in 1938, Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner discovered nuclear fission. Fission is when a nucleus splits apart.

Today, nuclear chemistry is part of many daily activities. It is used in the nuclear fuel cycle to make power. This cycle starts with mining ore and ends with storing used fuel. Some countries recycle this fuel using a process called PUREX. This method uses a special mixture to pull out uranium and plutonium. In the United States, most fuel is put in deep storage. This rule began in 1977 to help prevent the spread of weapons.