Written to provide students who have limited backgrounds in the physical sciences and math with an accessible textbook on nuclear chemistry and physics, Introduction to Nuclear Science, Fourth Edition continues to provide a clear and complete introduction to nuclear chemistry and physics, from basic concepts to nuclear power and medical applications. Incorporating suggestions from adopting professors and collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy-funded and American Chemical Society-sponsored Nuclear Chemistry Summer School, a new chapter on nuclear structure is now included. Also new to this edition: A section covering mass excess calculations Isochron dating of rocks The section on statistics is completely re-written to better align with conventional instruction Expanded discussion of recent changes in the nuclear power industry and nuclear medicine This book covers energetics, nuclear stability and structure, radioactive decay and reactions, interactions of radiation with matter, detection methods, and safety measures, including monitoring and regulations. This updated, expanded edition provides a much-needed textbook and resource for undergraduate students in science and engineering as well as those studying nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.

Table of Contents:
Author Preface to the fourth edition Preface to the third edition Preface to the second edition Preface to the first edition Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Radiation 1.2 Atomic Structure 1.3 Nuclear Transformations 1.4 Nuclear Stability 1.5 Ionizing Radiation 1.6 A Biological Threat? 1.7 Natural and Anthropogenic Radiation 1.8 The Chart of the Nuclides Questions Chapter 2 The Mathematics of Radioactive Decay 2.1 Atomic Masses and Average Atomic Masses 2.2 The Nature of Decay 2.3 Specific Activity 2.4 Dating 2.5 Branched Decay 2.6 Equilibria 2.7 Statistics Questions Chapter 3 Energy and the Nucleus 3.1 Binding Energy 3.2 Total Energy of Decay 3.3 Decay Diagrams 3.4 Mass as Energy Questions Chapter 4 Applications of Nuclear Science I: Power and Weapons 4.1 Nuclear Power 4.2 Nuclear Weapons 4.3 Nuclear Forensics Questions Chapter 5 Radioactive Decay: The Gory Details 5.1 Alpha Decay 5.2 Beta Decay 5.3 Positron Decay 5.4 Electron Capture 5.5 Multiple Decay Modes 5.6 The Valley of Beta Stability 5.7 Isomeric Transitions 5.8 Other Decay Modes Questions Chapter 6 Nuclear Structure 6.1 Nuclear Shape and Size 6.2 The Semi-Empirical Mass Equation 6.3 The Shell Model 6.4 Applications of the Shell Model Questions Chapter 7 Interactions of Ionizing Radiation with Matter 7.1 Ionizing Radiation 7.2 Charged Particles 7.3 Photons 7.4 Attenuation of Gamma and X-Radiation Questions Chapter 8 Detection of Ionizing Radiation 8.1 Gas-Filled Detectors 8.2 Scintillation Detectors 8.3 Other Detectors 8.4 Gamma Spectroscopy Questions Chapter 9 Applications of Nuclear Science II: Medicine and Food 9.1 Radiology 9.2 Radiation Therapy 9.3 Food Irradiation 9.4 Nuclear Medicine Questions Chapter 10 Nuclear Reactions 10.1 Energetics 10.2 Cross Section 10.3 Yield 10.4 Accelerators 10.5 Cosmogenic Nuclides Questions Chapter 11 Fission and Fusion 11.1 Spontaneous Fission 11.2 Neutron-Induced Fission 11.3 Fusion 11.4 Stellar Nucleosynthesis 11.5 Synthesis of Unknown Elements Questions Chapter 12 Applications of Nuclear Science III: More About Nuclear Reactors 12.1 Reactions in Reactors 12.2 Other Reactor Types 12.3 Reactor Safety Systems 12.4 Nuclear Power Plant Accidents 12.5 Fusion Reactors Questions Chapter 13 Radiation Protection 13.1 Terms 13.2 Regulations and Recommendations 13.3 Risk Questions Chapter 14 X-ray Production 14.1 Conventional X-ray Beams 14.2 High-Energy X-ray Beams Questions Chapter 15 Dosimetry of Radiation Fields 15.1 Percentage Depth Dose 15.2 Tissue Air Ratio 15.3 Tissue Maximum Ratio 15.4 Isodose Curves 15.5 Moving Fields 15.6 Proton and Electron Beam Dosimetry Questions Bibliography Appendix A: Nuclide Data Appendix B: Table of Chi-Squared Appendix C: Useful Constants, Conversion Factors and Formulas Appendix D: Periodic Table of the Elements Index