General Chemistry

1. Nuclear Chemistry
   1. Types of Radioactive Decay
      1. Alpha Decay
         1. Characteristics of alpha particles
         2. Example reactions
         3. Penetration power and shielding
         4. Biological effects of alpha radiation
      2. Beta Decay
         1. Types of beta particles: beta-minus and beta-plus
         2. Neutron-to-proton conversion in beta-minus decay
         3. Proton-to-neutron conversion in beta-plus decay
         4. Example reactions
         5. Penetration power and typical shielding
         6. Impact on atomic and mass numbers
      3. Gamma Decay
         1. Nature of gamma rays
         2. Energetic transitions in the atomic nucleus
         3. Gamma emission following alpha or beta decay
         4. Example reactions
         5. Penetration capability and types of shielding
         6. Uses in medicine and industry
      4. Other Decay Processes
         1. Positron emission
         2. Electron capture
         3. Differences between electron capture and positron emission
         4. Internal conversion
   2. Nuclear Reactions
      1. Fission
         1. Spontaneous versus induced fission
         2. Chain reactions and critical mass
         3. Energy release from fission
         4. Applications in nuclear reactors
         5. Common fissile materials: Uranium-235, Plutonium-239
         6. Waste products and disposal issues
      2. Fusion
         1. Fusion reactions in stars
         2. Energy output and efficiency comparison with fission
         3. Challenges and potential of controlled fusion reactors
         4. Examples: Hydrogen isotopes (Deuterium and Tritium) fusion
         5. Magnetic confinement and inertial confinement methods
         6. Environmental and safety advantages
      3. Comparison Between Fission and Fusion
         1. Energy yields
         2. Byproducts and environmental impact
         3. Technological challenges and current research directions
   3. Applications of Nuclear Chemistry
      1. Radiocarbon Dating
         1. Principles of carbon-14 decay
         2. Applications in archaeology and geology
         3. Limitations and accuracy considerations
      2. Medical Applications
         1. Diagnostic imaging techniques: PET and SPECT
         2. Use of radiopharmaceuticals
         3. Radiation therapy for cancer treatment
         4. Safety and regulatory aspects
      3. Industrial and Agricultural Applications
         1. Use in material testing and analysis
         2. Tracers in chemical processes
         3. Applications in pest control and food irradiation
      4. Energy Production
         1. Nuclear power plants: design and operation
         2. Comparison with traditional energy sources
         3. Waste management and long-term storage solutions
      5. Research and Technological Developments
         1. Ongoing advancements in nuclear medicine
         2. Development of new isotopic tracers
         3. Innovations in nuclear waste reduction and reuse
   4. Nuclear Stability and Models
      1. Nuclear Forces and Binding Energy
         1. Strong nuclear force and residual interactions
         2. Mass defect and binding energy calculations
         3. Nuclear binding energy curve
      2. Stability and Magic Numbers
         1. Concept of magic numbers in nuclei
         2. Predicting stable nuclei
         3. Islands of stability: superheavy elements
      3. Liquid Drop Model
         1. Semi-empirical mass formula
         2. Surface and volume terms and their implications
      4. Shell Model
         1. Quantum mechanical approach
         2. Successes and limitations of the shell model
   5. Safety and Environmental Impact
      1. Radiation Exposure and Protection
         1. Units of radioactivity: becquerel and curie
         2. Dose assessment: gray and sievert
         3. Radiation safety guidelines and best practices
      2. Environmental Impact of Nuclear Power
         1. Analysis of nuclear accidents and their impact
         2. Long-term environmental considerations
         3. Mitigation of risks and future strategies
      3. Public Perception and Policy
         1. Challenges in public acceptance of nuclear technologies
         2. Role of government regulations and international agreements
         3. Future prospects in global energy policies