Nuclear Chemistry in Science Education Nuclear Chemistry in Science Education - Forty-Five-Years Experience- Forty-Five-Years Experience

2nd Int.Nuclear Chemistry Congress, Cancún 2008

Fedor MACÁFedor MACÁŠŠEKEK

BratislavaBratislava

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My backgroundMy backgroundMoscow State University - physical chemistry and radiochemistry M.S.

1956-1961

Comenius University - nuclear chemistry, separation chemistry

1961-2004

BIONT,a.s. radiopharmaceuticals, quality manager

2005-

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Teacher’sTeacher’s questions questions

• Is nuclear chemistry an ugly child of 20th century chemistry?

• Does nuclear chemistry contribute to the general science knowledge?

• Are nuclear chemistry techniques valuable for present science?

• Does nuclear industry need radiochemists?• Is nuclear chemistry knowledge any use for

public?

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EvilsEvils

Hiroshima

Goiânia

Chernobyl

Tokai Mura

Litvinenko

Industrial accidents were mostly caused Industrial accidents were mostly caused by human factorby human factor::

the lack ofthe lack of deeper deeper ((if anyif any) ) knowledge knowledge of nuclear phenomena !!!of nuclear phenomena !!!

EvilsEvils

Even the simple driving a car Even the simple driving a car needs training and a license !needs training and a license !

(and still more than 3000 people die on the world's roads every day !!!)

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What was the contribution of chemists What was the contribution of chemists to (nuclear) science?to (nuclear) science?

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Hall of Fame Hall of Fame

M.Curie-Sklodowska Frederic Soddy Frederic & Irene Joliot-Curie

Harold Urey Liza Meitner & Otto Hahn` Glenn Seaborg

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Hall of Fame Hall of Fame

George Hevesy Vitalyi Khlopin Joseph Starik

Fritz Strassmann Fridrich Paneth Ivo ZváraAlbert Ghiorso

Willard Libby

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What is the position of What is the position of nuclear chemistry within chemistry ?nuclear chemistry within chemistry ?

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Behind the boarder of classical Behind the boarder of classical chemistrychemistry

• accounts for the chemical consequences of proton-neutron composition of atom nucleus

• describes the processes of alteration of chemical elements, and consequently their compounds.

• considers chemical element a priori not as the simplest and stable chemical substance (entity) but as a mixture of isotopes, and a substance which internal energy consists from both electronic and nuclear component

CurriculaCurricula

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Euro-baccalaureateEuro-baccalaureateNuclear Chemistry INuclear Chemistry I

1. Properties of atomic nuclei.2. Radioactive decay. 3. Natural radioactivity (40K, U, Th, Ra, Rn, 14C).4. Physical, chemical and biological properties of

ionizing radiation. 5. Measurement of radiation.

(Understanding radioactivity and ionizing radiation)

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1. Excitation functions and rate of simple nuclear reactions.

2. Nuclear activation and NAA. Preparation of radionuclides in reactor and on cyclotron.

3. Nucleogenesis, pp-, α,-, s- and r-processes.4. Separation of isotopes. Isotope analysis. 5. Chain fission reaction. Nuclear reactors. Fuel cycle.

Transuranium elements. Nuclear waste processing.6. Isotope exchange. Isotope indicators and labelled

compounds. `

Euro-baccalaureateEuro-baccalaureateNuclear Chemistry IINuclear Chemistry II(Isotope composition of elements and its change)

SourcesSources

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Textbooks - ClassicsTextbooks - Classics• Sklodowska-Curie 1910

• Soddy 1911

• Hahn 1936

• Hevesy, Paneth 1938

• Wahl, Bonner 1951

• Haissinski 1957

• Kamen 1957

• Friedlander, Kennedy, Miller 1964

• Choppin, Rydberg 1980

• Lieser 1995

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Textbooks - ClassicsTextbooks - ClassicsIn my student time:

Friedlander, Kennedy 1955

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Textbooks - ClassicsTextbooks - Classics

• Choppin, Liljenzin, Rydberg 1980, 1995, 2001

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Textbooks – Textbooks – a newest onea newest one

Loveland, Morrissey, Seaborg 2006

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TextbooksTextbooks

by Professor Walter D. Loveland

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Textbooks - RussiaTextbooks - Russia

• Старик И.Е. Основы радиохимии. Л., Наука, 1969.

• Нефедов В.Д., Текстер Е.Н., Торопова М.А. Радиохимия. М., ВШ, 1987

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Textbooks - CzechoslovakiaTextbooks - Czechoslovakia• Běhounek F., Heyrovský J., 1931

• Majer V., 1942, 1961

• Tölgyessy J., Varga Š., 1976

• Navratil O., Hála J., Kopunec R., Macášek F., Mikulaj V., Lešetický L., 1992

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Slovakia - for teachersSlovakia - for teachers

Nuclear Chemistry for Chemistry Teachers (since 1962!)

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Slovakia - for teachersSlovakia - for teachers

Nuclear Chemistry for Chemistry Teachers (since 1962!)

24 hrs on the 3rd year of study

PracticePractice

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Break-through into life sciences necessary:

(remember Leo Szilárd: when opposed to the use of all nuclear weapons he devoted himself to studying molecular biology !)

General science progress General science progress

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Radiochemical practiceRadiochemical practice

• Natural radioactivity assay (potassium, radon) ?

• Biochemical cycles ?

• Non-specific DNA labeling ?

Break-through into the life sciences practice is necessary:

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Radiochemical practiceRadiochemical practice

In sixtieths:

A TESLA digital counter BM353a for labs (about $1000)

GM counter for secondary schools

For $10 without power supply!

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Radiochemical practiceRadiochemical practice

• GM-counters

GCK-01 Kit:

Ne + Halogen filled, with a 2mg/cm2 mica end window

Detects

alpha > 3.0 MeV,

beta > 50 KeV,

gamma > 7 KeV.

Needs in a simple equipment for training (purchase in dosens?!):

about $400

www.imagesco.com/geiger/digital-geiger-counter.html

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Radiochemical practiceRadiochemical practice

• Liquid scintillation counters

Needs in a simple equipment for training (purchase in dosens?!):

TriathlerTriathler

for 3H, 14C, 32P, 33P, 35S

optional gamma counting NaI well, preset 125I, 51Cr, 58Co

still $11-13 thousands !

State-of-the-artState-of-the-art

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1) materials of nuclear purity (uranium, thorium, heavy water, zirconium, graphite etc.)

2) recovery of fission materials (239Pu from uranium and 233U from thorium)

3) materials for fusion reactors (deuterium from water, tritium from lithium)

4) utilization or transmutation of long-lived fission and activation products and transuranium elements

5) reliable fixation of radioactive wastes

Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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All these topics of nuclear energy cycle should be reflected in curricula of all chemistry majors

Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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Teaching challengesTeaching challenges

More attention to progressive applications:

1) radioactive tracers for computer tomography -SPECT and PET (radiopharmaceuticals)

2) radioactive tracers for biochemical and physiological processes, especially for pharmacodynamics and toxicology

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

1971

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

1990

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„Status of Nuclear Science Education and Teaching“

Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

1992

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

2003

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Many large universities lost their leadership in nuclear science education, and in large extent their position was replaced by effort of research institutions, nuclear societies, and web learning.

Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

since 2000 3 of 22 without response (?)

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

2008: none

(Michigan State University)

2008: none

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

a very passive approach !

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Teaching chemistry in nuclear era Teaching chemistry in nuclear era

an active approach !

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Non-science majorNon-science major

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Science MajorScience Major

CERNCERN

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Science MajorScience Major

OrsayOrsay

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Hungary - G.Hevesy‘s countryHungary - G.Hevesy‘s country

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Very progressive and equilibrated curricula of nuclear sciences !

http://www.enen-assoc.org/data/document/ne_hungary.pdf

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Ozersk / Ozersk / Озёрск Озёрск ((Маяк)Маяк)Chemical technology of contemporary energetics materials

ChallengesChallenges

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Specialists breeding Specialists breeding

Recent nuclear power reactors technology will probably need more:

• specialists on cooling systems and spent fuel storage safety improvements

• specialists on radioactive wastes

• experts on reactors decommisisioning …

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Specialists breeding Specialists breeding UK Report 2003

UK: a gap of 500 graduates per year !

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General science progress General science progress

Nuclear power proliferation badly needs:

• co-operation with molecular biologists in ivestigation of low radiation dosis effects (treshold dose problem)

• co-operation with botanists and microbiologists on new approach to soils decontamination and remediation

• a new approach to internal contamination

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General science progress General science progress

• co-operation with molecular biologists

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Targeted education Targeted education

• Early reproduction of knowledge in new regional university centers

• Call to Worldatom, UNICEF and IAEA for common effort

• Establishment of educational section within the Nuclear Chemistry Society

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Targeted education Targeted education Example: IAEA RCA Project

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Targeted education Targeted education Example: European Nuclear Society

Role of nuclear chemistry in Role of nuclear chemistry in general educationgeneral education

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„Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.“

M.Sklodowska-Curie

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Nuke in dark colorsNuke in dark colors

These cooling towers are used as an expressive symbolic presentation of nuclear power evil.

There is nothing specifically nuclear about them.

So what? Is ethics unimportant?

To see atomic energy only as a means of destruction is as trivial and absurd ... like to regard electricity primarily as a source

of energy for the electric chair

Piotr Kapitsa

Nuke in dark colorsNuke in dark colors

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Nuke in bright colorsNuke in bright colors

We ought a lot to our students and children to explain that „nuclear“ is neither a dirty word nor a dirty practice.

High professionalism and art of assertiveness must present.

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One good example from Finland (One good example from Finland (1998)1998)::

http://www.kolumbus.fi/wahls/booklist.htm

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and another one (USA, and another one (USA, 2003)2003)::

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and another one (Russia, and another one (Russia, 2008)2008)::

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HungaryHungaryDr. Csaba Sükösd: “Lately it has been recognised fortunately that it is important to include some basic nuclear knowledge already in secondary education.“

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How can you form goodness, except through love?

How can people be made free, if they are not allowed to live in freedom?

How can they made useful without a scientific knowledge of the forces of nature?

José MartíProspects:the quarterly review of comparative education 24, 1/2, UNESCO: International Bureau of Education, Paris, 1994, p. 107–19

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HungaryHungary

Dr. Csaba Sükösd‘s Story:

Macášek 2nd INCC Cancún 2008 71Let’s start from the youth...Let’s start from the youth...