Study level
BAC +4
ECTS
2 credits
Component
Faculty of Science
Description
This teaching unit covers the basic elements needed to understand natural and artificial radioactivity phenomena. The aim is to introduce all the concepts linked to parentage phenomena, natural radioactive families and their associated environmental consequences, dating methods, radionuclide production methods and their use in various fields, as well as anthropogenic contributions. Examples from industry, nuclear energy, radiochemistry, geochemistry and nuclear medicine will support the basic concepts covered.
Hourly volumes* :
CM: 12h
TD : 8h
Objectives
The objective of this teaching unit is to provide students with a broad base of knowledge ranging from the description of radioactive decay phenomena and radioactive filiations to the different categories of radioelements and radionuclides as well as their potential applications. It will also involve drawing up an inventory of the different categories of primordial or induced natural radioactivity and artificial radioactivity.
Necessary prerequisites
Teaching chemistry, chemistry-physics or physical sciences
Knowledge control
Full continuous assessment
Syllabus
General:
- History and discoveries
- Description of radioactive decay phenomena
- Concept of decline period
- Concepts of radioelement and radionuclide
- Fertile or fissile material
- Fission reaction and fission products
- Radioactive filiations:
- Examples of affiliation to one or more bodies
- Extension of the problem to the case of n-body filiations (Bateman's law)
- Consequences on the upstream of the nuclear power cycle
- Consequences on the management of certain nuclear waste
- Radioactive families:
- Case of families of natural decline
- Special role of radon
- Applications in geochemical dating methods
- Inventory of radioactive phenomena:
- Radioactive phenomena of natural origin
- Radioactive phenomena of artificial origin
- Induced phenomena
- Anthropogenic contribution
- Role of Radon in the radio-ecotoxicological inventory
- Chemical, physical, radiochemical, geochemical and medical applications
Teaching will take the form of lectures and tutorials applied to cases from different fields of application in industry such as radiochemistry, nuclear medicine, geochemistry and the environment.
Further information
Administrative contact(s): Master of Chemistry secretariat