Nuclear Chemistry

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Nuclear Chemistry Web Quest
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Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion
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Introduction Nuclear chemistry is often one of
the most misunderstood and feared subjects. We
most often associate it with the atomic bomb,
nuclear war and Chernobyl. While these problems
are very important to the study of Nuclear
Chemistry there are also important and safe
issues. Some of these include the use of Nuclear
Chemistry in the fields of medicine, food
preservation and power production. You are going
to explore these issues and then make informed
decisions about them.
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• Task
• In this Web Quest you will be exploring the world
  of Nuclear Chemistry.
• You and your partner will be a Problem-Solving
  team who studies a topic in Nuclear Chemistry and
  the pros and cons that go along with it.
• You will research all of the topics with the
  Internet links I have provided you.
• After careful consideration, you will choose one
  of the topics concerning Nuclear Chemistry.
• You will research this topic by answering all of
  the questions from your topic with the Internet
  links I have provided you. Your answers must be
  typed and in complete sentences.
• Design a power point presentation or create a
  poster with the questions and answers on your
  topic.
• Finally you will present your findings to the
  class in a 2 3 minute presentation next week.

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Topics

• Radiation
• Nuclear Weapons
• Nuclear Power
• Nuclear Industry
• Irradiated food/mail
• Uses in medicine
• Nuclear Waste

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• Process
• Use the following links to answer the following
  questions
• Radiation
• What is radiation?
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Radiation Works
• Radiation and Radioactivity Radiation
  Protection US EPA
• Who discovered radiation how was it discovered?
• Radioactivity Historical Figures
• The ORCBS - Radiation Safety - Resources Links
  - Historical Figures
• Describe alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
• Basic Nuclear Science Information
• The Three Types of Radioactive Decay

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• Process cont. (Radiation)
• List the 9 naturally-occurring elements that are
  radioactive.
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Radiation Works
• Are there any man-made elements that are
  radioactive? If so what are they?
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Radiation Works
• What are isotopes? What do isotopes have to do
  with radioactivity?
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Radiation Works
• How do radioactive smoke detectors work?
• How Smoke Detectors Work Radiation Protection
  US EPA
• Describe 3 ways in which humans may be exposed to
  radiation
• Radiation and Radioactivity Radiation
  Protection US EPA

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• Process cont. (Radiation)
• List some biological effects of being exposed to
  radiation.
• Health Effects Radiation Protection US EPA
• Using one of these radiation dose charts,
  calculate your yearly radiation exposure.
• ANS Public Information Resources Radiation
  Dose Chart
• Calculate Your Radiation Dose Radiation
  Protection US EPA
• NUCLEAR WEAPONS
• How does an atomic bomb work?
• Key Issues Nuclear Weapons The Basics Weapons
  Basics
• What is the difference between an atomic bomb and
  a hydrogen bomb?
• Key Issues Nuclear Weapons The Basics Weapons
  Basics

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Weapons)
• Describe some of the effects of a nuclear
  explosion
• Key Issues Nuclear Weapons The Basics Weapons
  Basics
• What elements are used in atomic bombs?
• Key Issues Nuclear Weapons The Basics
  Weapons Basics
• Who were the two scientists to first split a
  uranium atom?
• Atoms Amok Weapons The Beginning
• 6) Which countries have a nuclear arsenal?
• BBC News WORLD The world's nuclear arsenal
• 7) What is a dirty bomb and what threat does
  this pose to the general public?
• NRC Fact Sheet on Dirty Bombs

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• NUCLEAR POWER
• How does a nuclear power plant work? Make sure
  to highlight the primary components and how they
  function together to generate power.
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Power Works
• NRC Students' Corner
• Nuclear Fission Basics Nuclear Fission
  Science atomicarchive.com
• 2) What are some advantages of using nuclear
  power?
• HowStuffWorks "Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power
  Plants
• 3) What are some of the disadvantages of using
  nuclear power?
• Nuclear Files Key Issues Nuclear Energy The
  Basics

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Power)
• 4) What happened at the Three Mile Island
  nuclear power plant? What caused this and what
  are the after effects?
• NRC Fact Sheet on the Three Mile Island
  Accident
• The American Experience Meltdown at Three Mile
  Island
• FRONTLINE nuclear reaction three mile island
• 5) What happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power
  plant? What caused this and what are the after
  effects?
• FRONTLINE nuclear reaction chernobyl
• Chernobyl
• Chernobyl - The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident
• What happened at the Fukushima power plant in
  Japan? What caused this and what are the after
  effects?
• NRC Fact Sheet on Fukushima
• World Nuclear Association
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• Process cont. (Nuclear Power)
• 7) What are some of the controversies
  surrounding nuclear power?
• Key Issues Nuclear Energy The Basics
  Introduction
• 8) What are some of the controversies
  surrounding nuclear power?
• Key Issues Nuclear Energy The Basics
  Introduction
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• NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
• What is a PET scan? What does PET stand for?
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Medicine Works
• What is a SPECT scan? What are its advantages
  and disadvantages as compared to PET scans?
• HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Medicine Works
• Why are cancer cells more effected by radiation
  than most normal cells? What normal cells can be
  affected by radiation and how?
• Radiation Therapy and You - National Cancer
  Institute
• How is chemotherapy different from radiation
  therapy?
• Dictionary of Cancer Terms - National Cancer
  Institute

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Industry)
• Name one radioisotope used for radiation
  treatment and what specific cancer it treats.
• http//www.ansto.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/00
  18/3564/Radioisotopes.pdf
• What is food irradiation and how does it
  preserved food?
• Disease Listing, Food Irradiation CDC
  Bacterial, Mycotic Diseases
• Food Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• CNN - Irradiated food It works, but few are
  buying - November 25, 1997
• What type of radiation is used for food
  irradiation?
• Disease Listing, Food Irradiation CDC
  Bacterial, Mycotic Diseases
• Food Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• CNN - Irradiated food It works, but few are
  buying - November 25, 1997

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Industry)
• 8) Why does irradiation kill bacteria?
• Disease Listing, Food Irradiation CDC
  Bacterial, Mycotic Diseases
• Food Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• CNN - Irradiated food It works, but few are
  buying - November 25, 1997
• Whos mail is being irradiated and why?
• Mail Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• Does the radiation from treating foods and mail
  last?
• US EPA
• Food Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• CNN - Irradiated food It works, but few are
  buying - November 25, 1997
• Mail Irradiation Radiation Protection US EPA
• NUCLEAR WASTE
• What are the sources for the accumulation of
  nuclear waste?
• Managing Radioactive Materials Waste
  Radiation Protection Program US EPA

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Waste)
• What is the difference between low-level and
  high-level nuclear waste? What dangers does each
  level pose?
• NRC Backgrounder on Radioactive Waste
• Can nuclear waste be made safe?
• NRC Backgrounder on Radioactive Waste
• 4) What are the short-term solutions to the
  storage of nuclear waste?
• The Bane of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Waste
  Storage
• Describe the proposed solution and controversy
  surrounding Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
• The Bane of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Waste
  Storage
• Are there presently any long-term solutions to
  the storage of nuclear waste in use?
• Questions and Answers on Nuclear Power -
  Environmental Defense Fund

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• Process cont. (Nuclear Waste)
• What effects does nuclear waste have on the
  environment?
• NRC Backgrounder on Radioactive Waste
• HowStuffWorks "Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power
  Plants
• What countries produce the most nuclear waste?
• WikiAnswers - What country in the world produces
  the most pollution
• Why is nuclear waste such a danger?
• HowStuffWorks "Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power
  Plants"

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Evaluation Your grade will be determined by the
completeness of the questions during the Process
section of this Web Quest as well as the scoring
of your groups presentation. See Rubric. BACK
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Conclusion Now that you have completed this Web
Quest hopefully you have a more thorough
understanding of Nuclear Chemistry. With the
energy crisis we are experiencing these issues
will come up as we look for energy
alternatives. BACK TO BEGINNING