Nuclear & Radiochemistry — 60 Terms Defined

Radiolysis Nuclear & Radiochemistry Dimensionless The chemical decomposition of a substance caused by ionising radiation. H₂O →(radiation) H· + OH·

Radiometric Dating Nuclear & Radiochemistry years The general technique of determining the age of a sample from the decay of a radioactive nuclide it contains. t = (1/λ) ln(1 + D/P)

Radiopharmaceutical Nuclear & Radiochemistry MBq A radioactive compound administered to a patient for diagnosis or treatment.

Radiotherapy Nuclear & Radiochemistry Gy The medical use of ionising radiation to destroy cancerous tissue.

Scintillation Counter Nuclear & Radiochemistry counts/s A detector in which radiation causes a material to emit flashes of light that are counted and measured.

Secular Equilibrium Nuclear & Radiochemistry Bq The steady state reached when a long-lived parent supports a short-lived daughter at constant activity. λ₁N₁ = λ₂N₂

Sievert Nuclear & Radiochemistry Sv The SI unit of equivalent dose, weighting absorbed dose by the biological damage the radiation type causes. H = D × w_R

Strong Nuclear Force Nuclear & Radiochemistry N The short-range attractive force that binds protons and neutrons together within the nucleus.

Thermonuclear Reaction Nuclear & Radiochemistry K A fusion reaction sustained by the extremely high temperatures of the reacting material itself.

Transmutation Nuclear & Radiochemistry Dimensionless The conversion of one element into another through a change in the number of protons in the nucleus. ¹⁴N + ⁴He → ¹⁷O + ¹H

Transuranium Elements Nuclear & Radiochemistry Dimensionless The synthetic elements with atomic numbers greater than 92, beyond uranium in the periodic table. Z > 92

Uranium–Lead Dating Nuclear & Radiochemistry years A radiometric method that determines the age of very old rocks from the ratio of uranium to its lead decay products. ²³⁸U → ²⁰⁶Pb (4.47 Ga)