PG Syllabus

1. The Atomic Nucleus
M. Sc. Final
PAPER-VI (H)
Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry
The atom, Units used in nuclear chemistry. The nucleus and the outer sphere, Classification of
nuclides, nuclear stability, atomic energy.
2. Nuclear Models
Historical, The shell model, The liquid drop model, The Fermi gas model, The collective model, The
optical model.
3. Radioactivity
Discovery, Radioactive elements, General characteristics of radioactive decay, Decay kinetics, Parentdaughter
decay-growth relationships, Alpha decay, Beta decay, Nuclear deexcitation, gamma emission,
artificial radioactivity.
4. Nuclear Reactions
Bethe's notation, types of nuclear reactions, conservation in nuclear reactions, reaction cross-section,
the compound nucleus theory, experimental evidence of Bohr's theory, Experiments of Ghoshal,
Alexander and Simonoff, Specific nuclear reactions, Photonuclear reactions, Direct nuclear reactions,
Thermonuclear reactions, The origin and evolution of elements.
5. Nuclear fission
The process of nuclear fission, Fission fragments and their mass distribution, Charge distribution, Ionic
charge of fission fragments, Fission energy, Fission cross-sections and thresholds, Fission neutrons,
Theory of nuclear fission, Other types of fission, Neutron evaporation and spallation.
6. Nuclear Reactors
The fission energy, The natural uranium reactor, The four factor formula: The reproduction factor k,
The classification of reactors, Reactor power, Critical size of a thermal reactor, Excess reactivity and
control, The breeder reactor, Nuclear reactors in India, Reprocessing of spent fuels: Recovery of
uranium and plutonium, Nature's nuclear reactor.
7. Applications of Radioactivity
Probing by isotopes, typical reactions involved in the preparation of radioisotopes, the Szilard-
Chalmers' reaction, Use of charged plates in the collection of radioisotopes, Radiochemical principles
in the use of tracers, Typical applications of radioisotopes as tracers, Uses of nuclear radiations,
Radioisotopes as a source of electricity.
Books Recommended:
Essentials of Nuclear Chemistry 2nd Edition by Hari Jeevan Arnikar