Code: 15RACH Radiation Chemistry
Lecturer: doc. Ing. Václav Čuba Ph.D. Weekly load: 3+0 Completion: EX
Department: 14115 Credits: 4 Semester: S
Description:
Part one of this course deals with the formation of Primary Intermediate Products of radiolysis (PIP) caused by the absorption of ionizing radiation in matters. General overview of their properties and reactions leading to the formation of Stable Products of Radiolysis (SPR) is given in this part as well. The part two (systematic radiation chemistry) is dedicated to the radiolysis of selected material systems.
Contents:
1. The scope of radiation chemistry, its relation to other scientific
disciplines, the interactions of directly ionising (charged particles) and
indirectly ionising (neutrons, photons) radiation with a matter as starting
point of radiation-chemical reaction (radiolysis).
2. The primary intermediate products (PIP) of radiolysis, their formation and
properties: Excited states, cations, electrons, radicals and anions. Complex
excited states: Excimers, exciplexes, plasmons. Superexcited states, high
Rydberg states.
3. Electrons generated by irradiation as the most important agens responsible for
the deposition of the radiation energy in a matter, electron degradation
spectrum. The thermalization and solvation of electrons.
4. Relaxation processes in excited atoms and molecules.
5. The reactions of PIP giving the stable products of radiolysis.
6. The track of an ionising charged particle and its structure. The types of
radiation-chemical yields, ionic-pair yield M/N, its meaning and use.
7. The stages of radiolysis: Physical stage, physicochemical stage chemical stage
and their products. The stage of post-effects (either chemical or biological).
8. The kinetics of radiation-chemical processes, Bodenstein's principle of steady
concentrations and its application, the fundamentals of diffusion kinetics.
9. The radiolysis of gases: Ionisation in noble gases, the radiolysis of selected
gaseous elements, the radiolysis of N2O and its use in dosimetry, the radiolysis
of water vapour.
10. The radiolysis of liquid water: The mechanism, the properties and reactivity
of radiolytic products, the influence of conditions during the irradiation on
the result of radiolysis.
11. The radiolysis of the water solutions of selected inorganic compounds, the
radiolysis of solutions containing Fe2+ and Ce4+ ions, their use in dosimetry.
12. The radiolysis of the water solutions of selected organic compounds.
13. The radiolysis of selected organic liquids.
14. The influence of radiation on the properties of solids and their radiolysis:
Metals and alloys, semiconductors, the halides of alkali metals, metal oxides,
organic solids and polymers.
Recommended literature:
Key references:
1. Spinks, J. W. T., Woods, R. J.: An Introduction to Radiation Chemistry, third edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1990
2. Mozumder, A.: Fundamentals of Radiation Chemistry, Academic Press, 1999
Recommended references:
1. Jonah, C. D., Rao, B. S. M., eds: Radiation Chemistry - Present Status and Future Trends, Elsevier, 2001
2. Woods, R. J., Pikaev, A. K.: Applied Radiation Chemistry - Radiation Processing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994
3. Bednář, J.: Theoretical Foundations of Radiation Chemistry, Academia Prague, 1990
4. Farhataziz, Rodgers, M. A. J., eds: Radiation Chemistry - Principles and Applications, VCH Publishers, Inc., New York, 1987
Keywords:
Radiation chemistry, ionising radiation, radiolysis, excited states, ion pairs, radicals, ions, electrons, solvated electrons, radiation chemical yield, primary radiation chemical yield, ionic-pair yield, electron degradation spectra.

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