Radioactive World: An Outreach Activity for Nuclear Chemistry

Abstract

Nuclear chemistry is a topic of great societal importance with applications in the realms of medicine, energy, and national security. Despite its significance, this area receives little attention in both K–12 and undergraduate education. This poor coverage arises in part from the lack of suitable educational resources to illustrate key concepts of nuclear chemistry. Here, we describe the development of two activities for the K–12 classroom, which are designed to assist instructors in communicating several conceptual aspects of nuclear chemistry. The first of these activities is an interactive game, called Isotope Rummy, which has been developed as a Lending Library kit through the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR). This game informs students on the composition of the nucleus and factors that determine nuclear stability with respect to radioactive decay. The second activity, called Radiative versus Radioactive Decay, is designed for instructor-led outreach workshops or demonstrations. This activity gives examples of spontaneous radioactive and stimulated photoluminescent decay. We have performed the activities separately and together in various high school classrooms and as a full workshop at a student conference. Feedback obtained from both teachers and students indicates that these activities are helpful for fostering an understanding of several key concepts in nuclear chemistry.

Periodic TableTalks: The Elements Never Go Out of Style

“…32 Wilson's work "Radioactive World: An Outreach Activity for Nuclear Chemistry" describes two K−12 activities intended to communicate concepts related to nuclear structure and stability and the difference between radiative and radioactive decay. 33 Eszter Boros (2020 recipient) and her group at State University of New York at Stony Brook report a highthroughput method to compare the luminescence quantum yields of lanthanide complexes excited by Cherenkov radiation. They demonstrate the ease and accuracy of the method for a library of terbium(III) complexes.…”

“…Wilson also presents a new size-selection strategy for purifying light lanthanide ions from ion mixtures using aqueous complexation by “macrophosphi”, which have, for example, a binding affinity for La 3+ that is a factor of 5 higher than its affinity for Gd 3+ . Wilson’s work “Radioactive World: An Outreach Activity for Nuclear Chemistry” describes two K–12 activities intended to communicate concepts related to nuclear structure and stability and the difference between radiative and radioactive decay …”

Hands-On Model of the Principle of Isotope Dilution Analysis for Use in an Interactive Teaching and Learning Classroom Exercise

“…Nuclear chemistry and related topics of radioactivity can be difficult to teach without access to radioactive material, detectors, and proper laboratories. However, the use of physical models in teaching activities can make the topic more tangible for the students …”

Development and Implementation of Nuclear Chemistry Experiments at the Undergraduate Level

“…However, nuclear chemistry and radioactivity can be difficult subjects to teach due to the existing misconceptions about these topics and the lack of available hands-on activities for aiding in their instruction. − The development of these types of activities or laboratory experiments that are amenable to the K–12 and undergraduate levels is challenging due to the general concern at both the institutional and societal levels regarding handling radioactive materials. Despite these challenges, there have been significant efforts in designing new K–12 activities − and undergraduate-level laboratory experiments − that enhance student understanding and dispel misconceptions regarding nuclear chemistry.…”