Radioactive Chemicals

This is one of the 18 Background Books published for Stage II of the Nuffield Chemistry Sample Scheme. The books were highly illustrated and designed to be attractive. This book describes applications of chemistry but includes some historical sections and covers some applications.

There are six parts to this book:
*Part 1: Some discoveries
The discoveries of Roentgen, Becquerel, the Curies Soddy and Rutherford.

*Part 2: The laws of radioactivity
Half lives and decay series

*Part 3: What causes radioactivity?
Isotopes, the nuclear atom and changes to the nucleus during radioactive decay.

*Part 4: Radioactive substances: natural and man-made
The natural formation of radioactive carbon atoms, radiocarbon dating, isolation of isotopes from decay series and the production of isotopes by irradiation.

*Part 5: The radiations
Ionising radiations and their effects on living matter.

*Part 6: Uses of radioactivity
Tracers and the uses of radiations in chemical analysis, for measurement and for sterilising medical equipment.

This book was first published in 1968 and relates to a topic on radioactivity in the Nuffield Sample Scheme that no longer features in courses at this level. The main account of the ideas still stands but it has to be read bearing in mind the date of authorship.