Nuclear chemistry in the traditional undergraduate chemistry program: Activity across the curriculum

The traditional undergraduate program for chemistry majors, especially at institutions devoted solely to undergraduate education, has limited space for special topics courses in areas such as nuclear and radiochemistry. I propose a scheme whereby the basic topics covered in an introductory radiochemistry course are touched upon, and in some cases covered in detail, at some time during the four-year sequence of courses taken by a chemistry major.     

Incorporating nuclear chemistry as an education tool in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum: A description of the curriculum project

Although many areas of major national need depend critically on professionals trained in nuclear and radiochemistry, educational opportunities and student interest in this area have declined steadily for the last twenty years. One major contributing factor to the lack of student interest is that most students in science and chemistry courses are never introduced to these topics. This deficiency in science curricula, coupled with the negative public perception towards all things “nuclear”, has resulted in a serious shortage of individuals with a background in this area. We propose to address this problem by “educating the educators” — providing faculty from two- and four-year colleges and high school science teachers with the curriculum materials, training, and motivation to incorporate these topics on a continuing basis in their curricula. Two advantages of this approach are: (1) it will generate scientists with a basic understanding of this field and (2) as teachers incorporate nuclear topics, many students will have the opportunity to reflect on the role of science in a technological society.     

Problems of teaching undergraduate analytical chemistry

Summary Some problems of teaching undergraduate analytical chemistry are outlined and discussed. As a model the teaching scheme and contents of some courses concerning basic analytical chemistry at the Masaryk University, Brno, and the Charles University, Prague, are given.     

What is nuclear chemistry's position in the freshman chemistry curriculum?

A survey of freshman chemistry textbooks from the 1920's to the 1990's was performed. The amount and point of presentation of the nuclear chemistry material in these texts is compared. A further comparison is made with the nuclear material presented in nonscience majors textbooks. Finally, arguments are given regarding how nuclear chemists can affect the presentation of nuclear chemistry in future freshman chemistry textbooks.     

Review of the role of nuclear analytical chemistry in the Canadian nuclear fuel waste management program

The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program involves both field and laboratory research, to assess the concept of disposal of nuclear fuel wastes at depths of up to 1000 m in plutonic rocks. This research program is multifaceted and requires data from a large number of disciplines, such as geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, civil and mining engineering, chemistry, solid state science, environmental science, and meteorology. In many of these disciplines, nuclear analytical chemistry plays a major role. Examples of the application of nuclear analytical chemistry, including radiochemical separation and instrumental neutron activation analysis, will be discussed.Issued as AECL-8748.     

The EcoScale as a framework for undergraduate green chemistry teaching and assessment

An upper-year undergraduate practical examination is presented that utilizes the EcoScale (a semi-quantitative tool) and several established mass metrics to assess student understanding of green chemistry principles. This activity focuses on the straightforward preparation of a benzodiazepine via three different catalytic methods, and the analysis of individual experimental data during laboratory time. Students learn about the structure of the EcoScale, apply it as a simplistic life cycle assessment, and critique it as a scientific model. The examination complements more traditional expository and self-design experiments within a synthetic course where green chemistry and sustainability are central themes.     

Radiochemistry in chemistry and chemistry related undergraduate programmes in Argentina

Summary The evolution of education in Argentina at the university level is described. The detailed search of the educational offer shows that less than half of the universities (35 out of 92) include chemistry and chemistry related undergraduate programmes in their curriculum. The revision of the position of radiochemistry in these programmes reveals that only seven courses on radiochemistry are currently offered. Radiochemistry is included only in few programmes in chemistry and biochemistry. With respect to the programmes in chemical engineering the situation is worse. This offer is strongly concentrated in Buenos Aires and its surroundings.     

Analytical chemistry teaching in the USSR

The paper reviews the state of analytical chemistry teaching at Soviet higher educational establishments, discussing specifics of teaching techniques at various schools of higher learning, viz. universities and technological and non-chemical institutes. It describes the curricula and methods of continuous assessment. Particular attention is paid to the subject matter of courses in analytical chemistry and its future improvement, with special focus on problems related to training specialists in analytical chemistry at universities and other institutions of higher education. The paper also deals with facilities and opportunities offered for research projects, and finally touches on the problem of text books.     

Analytical chemistry in nuclear technology

Summary The objectives of analytical chemistry in nuclear technology are discussed. The analytical techniques and methods commonly used in the various phases of the nuclear fuel cycle, mining and fuel fabrication, reprocessing and nuclear waste management are described and their advantages and disadvantages are demonstrated. The question of applying in-line analytical instruments in this area is addressed and some techniques which show a proven potential for such an employment are defined.Presented at the 33rd IUPAC Congress, Budapest, August 17–22, 1991.     

The teaching of analytical chemistry in the laboratory

Summary The operation of a combined inorganic analytical course designed to be as flexible as possible, and to use the student's time most economically is described. It has been found that students can be interested by carrying out experiments on their own preparations, but that considerable caution is needed in the interpretation of the results because their preparations may vary considerably and in a manner which is not predictable. The advantages and disadvantages of such a course are discussed.

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Analytisch-chemischer Unterricht im Laboratorium

Zusammenfassung Ein kombinierter anorganisch-analytischer Lehrgang wird beschrieben, der möglichst flexibel ist und die aufgewendete Zeit nutzbringend einzusetzen erlaubt. Durch Versuche mit eigenen Präparaten wird das Interesse des Studenten geweckt; jedoch ist bei der Auswertung der Ergebnisse Vorsicht geboten, da die Präparate unterschiedliche Zusammensetzung aufweisen können. Vor- und Nachteile eines solchen Lehrganges werden diskutiert.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1. 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Objectives in teaching analytical chemistry

Summary Demands on the analyst of today are systematically studied and the consequences for university education in analytical chemistry are discussed. The system adopted at the Technical University of Budapest is shown in detail. This comprises 5 years of university education in all the essential fundamental subjects and after subsequent successful work in a laboratory for at least 2 years, a further evening education in specialized topics for 2 years. The advantages of this system are set out.

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Ausbildungsziele in der Analytischen Chemie

Zusammenfassung Die Anforderungen an den heutigen Analytiker werden systematisch untersucht und die Folgerungen für die Hochschulausbildung diskutiert. Das an der Technischen Universität Budapest eingeführte Ausbildungssystem wird näher beschrieben. Es umfaßt neben einem 5jährigen Hochschulunterricht in den wesentlichen grundlegenden Fächern eine weitere 2jährige Spezialausbildung im Abendstudium, die frühestens nach 2jähriger erfolgreicher Laborarbeit begonnen werden kann. Die Vorteile dieses Systems werden aufgezeigt.

     

Uses of pH electrodes in nuclear chemistry

The determination and definition of pH is a controversial subject in many areas in chemistry. For these reasons the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has developed recommendations for pH measurement. These recommendations are currently (winter 2001) under revision - there will be increased emphasis on traceability of uncertainties in pH measurement. Here we describe how glass electrodes designed for measurement of pH are used in nuclear chemistry. The use of pH electrodes is then related to the IUPAC recommendations. In applied chemistry, e.g. nuclear chemistry, a pH is not sought as often as a hydrogen ion concentration or a simple equilibrium point during a titration. Ionic strengths are, moreover, often above the range in which the IUPAC recommendations apply. In these instances uncertainties must be assessed individually.     

The use of microtechniques in the teaching of chemistry

Summary It was pointed out that although small scale experimentation, micromethods, and microtechniques were considered for teaching even at elementary level over 100 years ago, their adoption has been very slow, and to a very large extent they have remained in the realm of the specialist.Though it may appear strange at first sight that there should be reluctance to experiment with methods of teaching science, an area of knowledge whose very heart is continuous experimentation, a small amount of reflection will show that teaching methods are a part of the sum total of the complex called culture which changes only slowly over a period of centuries. There is a definite trend towards the adoption of these methods for teaching chemistry not only at the college level, but also at the intermediate educational level, not alone because of the saving of time and materials but also because micromethods impart superior disciplines.