UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
ASSIGNMENT I
FNS 420 - RADIOCHEMISTRY
DATE: 28/10/2022 TIME: 11.00AM - 1.00PM
Instructions: The assignment SHOULD be submitted before 3rd November 2022.
Radionuclides can be produced either using a reactor
or a particle accelerator.
i] Give five characteristics of a
reactor that make the reactor a
suitable method for producing
radionuclides.
(5 Marks)
a) It is versatile and safe since energy
can be varied so as the radiation
b) It leads to a wide variety of
radionuclides
c) reactors have an excellent
high-flux thermal neutrons which
determine the rate of radioactivity
d) it involves the use of
core(fissionable
material)therefore the reaction is
spontaneous(self-sustaining)
e) it leads to smaller fission
fragments with shorter half lives
which commonly find use in
medicine
ii] Give 4 characteristics of an
accelerator that make it suitable
for producing radionuclides.
(4 Marks)
a)It produces short lived neutron deficient
radionuclides which are used for PET and SPECT
technologies
b)It results in the production of a different element
than the target
c)There is a smaller amount of radioactive waste
generated in comparison to reactor production
d)it is comparatively low risk to reactor production
iii] State 4 factors that would
influence your choice of
radionuclide production.
a)reaction cross-section and the threshold energies
of competing reactions
b)The elements chemical characteristics of the target
materials
ASSIGNMENT I
FNS 420 - RADIOCHEMISTRY
DATE: 28/10/2022 TIME: 11.00AM - 1.00PM
Instructions: The assignment SHOULD be submitted before 3rd November 2022.
Radionuclides can be produced either using a reactor
or a particle accelerator.
i] Give five characteristics of a
reactor that make the reactor a
suitable method for producing
radionuclides.
(5 Marks)
a) It is versatile and safe since energy
can be varied so as the radiation
b) It leads to a wide variety of
radionuclides
c) reactors have an excellent
high-flux thermal neutrons which
determine the rate of radioactivity
d) it involves the use of
core(fissionable
material)therefore the reaction is
spontaneous(self-sustaining)
e) it leads to smaller fission
fragments with shorter half lives
which commonly find use in
medicine
ii] Give 4 characteristics of an
accelerator that make it suitable
for producing radionuclides.
(4 Marks)
a)It produces short lived neutron deficient
radionuclides which are used for PET and SPECT
technologies
b)It results in the production of a different element
than the target
c)There is a smaller amount of radioactive waste
generated in comparison to reactor production
d)it is comparatively low risk to reactor production
iii] State 4 factors that would
influence your choice of
radionuclide production.
a)reaction cross-section and the threshold energies
of competing reactions
b)The elements chemical characteristics of the target
materials
