Recalling Radon's Recognition
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What Is Radon?
Biology Unit Radon Alert INVESTIGATION 3 WHAT IS RADON? INTRODUCTION Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is formed by the radioactive breakdown of radium, and is found in soils just about everywhere. You cannot see it, taste it, or smell it. It is continuously formed in rocks and soils and escapes into the atmosphere. In some cases, it makes its way into homes, builds up to high concentrations in indoor air, and can become a health hazard. Although there are several different isotopes of radon, the one that is of greatest concern as a potential Radioactivity - the spontaneous human health threat is called radon-222. Radon-222 is emission of energy by certain (radio- formed naturally during a chain of radioactive disintegra- active) atoms, resulting in a change tion reactions (decay series). The decay series begins from one element to another or one when uranium-238 decays. Uranium is widely distrib- isotope to another. The energy can uted in rocks and soils throughout the earth’s crust. It has be in the form of alpha or beta par- a half-life of 4.5 billion years, which means a very slow ticles and gamma rays. breakdown. The decay series is shown schematically in Figure 1. There are eight different elements and 15 different isotopes in the series, beginning with uranium- 238 and ending with lead-206. New elements formed by radioactive disintegration reactions are called decay products. Thus, radium-226 is one of the decay products of uranium-238. Polonium-218 and lead-214 are decay products of radon-222. -
Of the Periodic Table
of the Periodic Table teacher notes Give your students a visual introduction to the families of the periodic table! This product includes eight mini- posters, one for each of the element families on the main group of the periodic table: Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Boron/Aluminum Group (Icosagens), Carbon Group (Crystallogens), Nitrogen Group (Pnictogens), Oxygen Group (Chalcogens), Halogens, and Noble Gases. The mini-posters give overview information about the family as well as a visual of where on the periodic table the family is located and a diagram of an atom of that family highlighting the number of valence electrons. Also included is the student packet, which is broken into the eight families and asks for specific information that students will find on the mini-posters. The students are also directed to color each family with a specific color on the blank graphic organizer at the end of their packet and they go to the fantastic interactive table at www.periodictable.com to learn even more about the elements in each family. Furthermore, there is a section for students to conduct their own research on the element of hydrogen, which does not belong to a family. When I use this activity, I print two of each mini-poster in color (pages 8 through 15 of this file), laminate them, and lay them on a big table. I have students work in partners to read about each family, one at a time, and complete that section of the student packet (pages 16 through 21 of this file). When they finish, they bring the mini-poster back to the table for another group to use. -
Keeping Your Home Safe from RADON
Keeping Your Home Safe From RADON 800-662-9278 | Michigan.gov/radon 08/2019 What is Radon? Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil. The gas can accumulate in our home and in the air we breathe. Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage the lung. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. It is estimated that 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer due to radon exposure. A radon test is the only way to know how much radon is in your home. Radon can be reduced with a mitigation system. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has created this guide to explain: • How radon accumulates in homes • The health risks of radon exposure • How to test your home for radon • What to do if your home has high radon • Radon policies C Keeping Your Home Safe From Radon Table of Contents Where Does Radon Come From? ............................................. 1 Radon in Michigan ....................................................................... 1 Percentage of Elevated Radon Test Results by County ......... 2 Is There a Safe Level of Radon? ............................................... 3 Radon Health Risks ..................................................................... 4 How Radon Enters the Home ..................................................... 6 Radon Pathways ........................................................................... 7 Radon Testing ............................................................................ -
Milestones and Personalities in Science and Technology
History of Science Stories and anecdotes about famous – and not-so-famous – milestones and personalities in science and technology BUILDING BETTER SCIENCE AGILENT AND YOU For teaching purpose only December 19, 2016 © Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2016 1 Agilent Technologies is committed to the educational community and is willing to provide access to company-owned material contained herein. This slide set is created by Agilent Technologies. The usage of the slides is limited to teaching purpose only. These materials and the information contained herein are accepted “as is” and Agilent makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the materials and disclaims any responsibility for them as may be used or reproduced by you. Agilent will not be liable for any damages resulting from or in connection with your use, copying or disclosure of the materials contained herein. You agree to indemnify and hold Agilent harmless for any claims incurred by Agilent as a result of your use or reproduction of these materials. In case pictures, sketches or drawings should be used for any other purpose please contact Agilent Technologies a priori. For teaching purpose only December 19, 2016 © Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2016 2 Table of Contents The Father of Modern Chemistry The Man Who Discovered Vitamin C Tags: Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, chemical nomenclature Tags: Albert Szent-Györgyi, L-ascorbic acid He Discovered an Entire Area of the Periodic Table The Discovery of Insulin Tags: Sir William Ramsay, noble gas Tags: Frederick Banting, -
Radionuclides (Including Radon, Radium and Uranium)
Radionuclides (including Radon, Radium and Uranium) Hazard Summary Uranium, radium, and radon are naturally occurring radionuclides found in the environment. No information is available on the acute (short-term) noncancer effects of the radionuclides in humans. Animal studies have reported inflammatory reactions in the nasal passages and kidney damage from acute inhalation exposure to uranium. Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to uranium and radon in humans has been linked to respiratory effects, such as chronic lung disease, while radium exposure has resulted in acute leukopenia, anemia, necrosis of the jaw, and other effects. Cancer is the major effect of concern from the radionuclides. Radium, via oral exposure, is known to cause bone, head, and nasal passage tumors in humans, and radon, via inhalation exposure, causes lung cancer in humans. Uranium may cause lung cancer and tumors of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues. EPA has not classified uranium, radon or radium for carcinogenicity. Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) (5), which contains information on oral chronic toxicity and the RfD for uranium, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) Toxicological Profiles for Uranium, Radium, and Radon. (1) Uses Uranium is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Very small amounts are used in photography for toning, in the leather and wood industries for stains and dyes, and in the silk and wood industries. (2) Radium is used as a radiation source for treating neoplastic diseases, as a radon source, in radiography of metals, and as a neutron source for research. -
NATURE 591 ACOUSTICAL QUANTA and the Zontalline at the 'Epoch' T
No. 4044 May 3, 1947 NATURE 591 ACOUSTICAL QUANTA AND THE zontalline at the 'epoch' t. These are extreme cases. In general, signals cannot be represented by lines ; THEORY OF HEARING but it is possible to associate with them a certain characteristic rectangle or 'cell' by the following By DR. D. GABOR process, which at first sight might perhaps appear British Thomson-Houston Co. Research Laboratory, Rugby somewhat complicated. Consider a given signal described as s(t) in 'time N popular expositions of wave mechanics, acoustical language' and by its Fourier transform S(f) in I illustrations have been used by several authors, 'frequency language'. If s(f) is real, S(j) will be in with particular success by Lande1 • In a recent paper general complex, and the spectrum will extend over on the "Theory of Communication"• I have taken both ppsitive and negative frequencies. This creates the opposite course. Acoustical phenomena are dis an unwelcome asymmetry between the two repre cussed by mathematical methods closely related to sentations, which can be eliminated by operating those of quantum theory. While in physical acoustics with a complex signal ljl(t) = s(t) + icr(t), where cr(t) a new formal approach to old problems cannot be is the Hilbert transform of s(t), instead of with the expected to reveal much that is not already known, real signals(t). This choice makes the Fourier trans the position in subjective acoustics is rather different. form 'P(f) of ljl(t) zero for all negative frequencies. In fact, the new methods have already proved their Next we define the 'energy density' of the signal as heuristic value, and can be expected to throw more ljlljl*, where the asterisk denotes the conjugate com light on the theory of hearing. -
Guides to the Royal Institution of Great Britain: 1 HISTORY
Guides to the Royal Institution of Great Britain: 1 HISTORY Theo James presenting a bouquet to HM The Queen on the occasion of her bicentenary visit, 7 December 1999. by Frank A.J.L. James The Director, Susan Greenfield, looks on Front page: Façade of the Royal Institution added in 1837. Watercolour by T.H. Shepherd or more than two hundred years the Royal Institution of Great The Royal Institution was founded at a meeting on 7 March 1799 at FBritain has been at the centre of scientific research and the the Soho Square house of the President of the Royal Society, Joseph popularisation of science in this country. Within its walls some of the Banks (1743-1820). A list of fifty-eight names was read of gentlemen major scientific discoveries of the last two centuries have been made. who had agreed to contribute fifty guineas each to be a Proprietor of Chemists and physicists - such as Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, a new John Tyndall, James Dewar, Lord Rayleigh, William Henry Bragg, INSTITUTION FOR DIFFUSING THE KNOWLEDGE, AND FACILITATING Henry Dale, Eric Rideal, William Lawrence Bragg and George Porter THE GENERAL INTRODUCTION, OF USEFUL MECHANICAL - carried out much of their major research here. The technological INVENTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS; AND FOR TEACHING, BY COURSES applications of some of this research has transformed the way we OF PHILOSOPHICAL LECTURES AND EXPERIMENTS, THE APPLICATION live. Furthermore, most of these scientists were first rate OF SCIENCE TO THE COMMON PURPOSES OF LIFE. communicators who were able to inspire their audiences with an appreciation of science. -
Sir William M. Ramsay: Archaeologist and New Testament Scholar
W. Ward Gasque, Sir William M. Ramsay: Archaeologist and New Testament Scholar. A Survey of His Contribution to the Study of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1966. pp.95. Sir William M. Ramsay: Archaeologist and New Testament Scholar A Survey of His Contribution to the Study of the New Testament Baker Studies in Biblical Archaeology by W. Ward Gasque Foreword by F. F. Bruce Baker Book House Grand Rapids, Michigan Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-18312 Copyright, 1966, by Baker Book House Company First printing, August 1966 Second printing, August 1967 W. Ward Gasque, Sir William M. Ramsay: Archaeologist and New Testament Scholar. A Survey of His Contribution to the Study of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1966. pp.95. CONTENTS Foreword 7 Preface 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Chapter I. An Introduction to the Man and His Work 13 II. Luke the Historian 23 III. Paul the Missionary Statesman 38 IV. The Seven Churches of Asia 48 V. Potpourri 56 VI. Conclusion 61 Appendix I. A Chronological List of Ramsay’s Major Works 66 II. An Index of Select Subjects from Ramsay’s Major Works 68 III. Index of Scripture References from Ramsay’s Works 74 IV. An Index of Greek Terms from Ramsay’s Works 76 V. A Summer Journey in Asia Minor” by William M. Ramsay 78 Bibliography 86 Index 92 W. Ward Gasque, Sir William M. Ramsay: Archaeologist and New Testament Scholar. A Survey of His Contribution to the Study of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1966. -
The Noble Gases
INTERCHAPTER K The Noble Gases When an electric discharge is passed through a noble gas, light is emitted as electronically excited noble-gas atoms decay to lower energy levels. The tubes contain helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. University Science Books, ©2011. All rights reserved. www.uscibooks.com Title General Chemistry - 4th ed Author McQuarrie/Gallogy Artist George Kelvin Figure # fig. K2 (965) Date 09/02/09 Check if revision Approved K. THE NOBLE GASES K1 2 0 Nitrogen and He Air P Mg(ClO ) NaOH 4 4 2 noble gases 4.002602 1s2 O removal H O removal CO removal 10 0 2 2 2 Ne Figure K.1 A schematic illustration of the removal of O2(g), H2O(g), and CO2(g) from air. First the oxygen is removed by allowing the air to pass over phosphorus, P (s) + 5 O (g) → P O (s). 20.1797 4 2 4 10 2s22p6 The residual air is passed through anhydrous magnesium perchlorate to remove the water vapor, Mg(ClO ) (s) + 6 H O(g) → Mg(ClO ) ∙6 H O(s), and then through sodium hydroxide to remove 18 0 4 2 2 4 2 2 the carbon dioxide, NaOH(s) + CO2(g) → NaHCO3(s). The gas that remains is primarily nitrogen Ar with about 1% noble gases. 39.948 3s23p6 36 0 The Group 18 elements—helium, K-1. The Noble Gases Were Kr neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and Not Discovered until 1893 83.798 radon—are called the noble gases 2 6 4s 4p and are noteworthy for their rela- In 1893, the English physicist Lord Rayleigh noticed 54 0 tive lack of chemical reactivity. -
Radon in the Helium-Bearing Natural Gas of the Texas Panhandle
ej f Radon in the Helium-Bearing Natural Gas of the Texas Panhandle Trace Elements Memorandum Report 239 IN REPLY REFER TO: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHINGTON 25, D. C. AEC-4-98/1 Dr0 Phillip L 0 Merritt, Assistant Manager Raw Materials Operations U0 So Atomic Energy Commission Po 00 Box 30? Ansonia Station New York 23, New York Dear Phils Transmitted herewith for your information and distribution are 8 copies of Trace Elements Memorandum Report 239 9 "Radon in the helium=>bearing natural gas of the Texas Panhandle," by H0 Faul, Go Eo Mangerj and A0 Y0 Sakakura 0 Our measurements of the radon content of natural gas samples from 84 producing wells in the Texas Panhandle gas field show signifi- cant differences5 furthermore 9 the wells with the highest radon content occur in clusters suggesting a marked variation in the distribution of the parent elements of radon, namely radium and uranium., within or near the gas reservoir., Analysis of the radon data in relation to possible source distribution suggests that rocks containing average concentrations of uranium could not supply the amount of radon observed in most of the gas wellso Further research on the emanating power of granite and dolo mite is required to determine whether the radon observed is attributable to radioactive elements in the reservoir rock or to radioactive elements outside the reservoir volume proper0 The Oak Ridge National Laboratory k©s already initiated preliminary studies of the emanating power of the selected dolomite samples 0 Additional radon measurements, are needed to establish the limits of the abnormal radon concentration and further delineate the possible distribution of the parent !.element 0 Sincerely yours., '^SvwA^ W0 H Bradley I Chief Geologist fITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RADON IN THE HELIUM-BEARING NATURAL GAS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE H. -
Honored by Seventh Annual Nuclear Pioneer Lecture, 13Th Annual Meeting, Society of Nuclear Medicine
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING 397 Honored by Seventh Annual Nuclear Pioneer Lecture, 13th Annual Meeting, Society of Nuclear Medicine 1, By permissionof:The Max PlanckSociety,Cöttingen PRoERssoH DR. DR.H.C.MULT. Orro HAHr@1 Göttingen Otto Hahn A considerable majority of the pioneers, who were honored in this series of lectures before the Society of Nuclear Medicine, earned their merits in research work which originally did not have medicine as its goal. Hence the choice of Professor Otto Hahn as the hero of today's gathering fits well into this tradition. His great achievements are the discovery, mainly by chemical methods, of nu merous naturally occurring radioelements and of the revolutionary fission of the nucleus which subsequently led to important medical applications. BIOGRAPHICAL DATA Otto Hahn was born in 1879, in Frankfurt, Main, where he attended high school. He studied first at the University of Marburg, then two semesters in Munich, and received his Dr. phil. at Marburg in 1901, on the basis of a thesis in organic chemistry performed under the direction of Professor Theodor Zincke. After one year of military service in Frankfurt and two years assistantship in Zincke's lectures, he planned to assume a position in the chemical industry. It happened that one of the neighboring firms was looking for a young organic chemist whom they wished to send abroad occasionally. Hahn appeared to be an appropriate candidate, especially as his parents were willing to finance his stay in England where he was supposed to improve his knowledge of the language. Sir William Ramsay agreed to let him work during this time at the University Col lege in London. -
Radon Signals in XENON1T
P.A. (Sander) Breur Nikhef, Netherlands Radon signals in XENON1T XeSAT 2017 XENON1T Our goal: Our setup: 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 2 XENON1T is taking science data 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 3 XENON1T is taking science data 10/2016 03/2017 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 4 Radon expectations 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 5 MC background expectation Physics reach of the XENON1T dark matter experiment, http://arxiv.org/abs/1512.07501 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 6 Reducing radon • Surface cleaning/coating • Emanation measurements • Expectation: 10 μBq/kg for XENON1T More info: “Radon depletion in xenon boil-off gas” (arXiv:1611.03737) and “Online 222Rn removal by cryogenic distillation in the Radon emanation paper in preparation XENON100 experiment” (arXiv: 1702.06942) 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 7 The 'radon' spectrum 5.6 MeV Low energy Low 7.8 MeV 5.4 MeV 6.1 MeV Isotope Energy [MeV] Half-life 210Po 5.4 138 d 222Rn 5.6 3.8 d 218Po 6.1 3.1 m Physics reach of the XENON1T dark matter experiment, http://arxiv.org/abs/1512.07501 214Po 7.8 162.3 us 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 8 Radon signals in XENON1T 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 9 The four alpha lines of Radon 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A. Breur (Nikhef) - XENON 10 The four alpha lines of Radon • 214Po has a half life of 164μs • 214Bi and 214Po are always recorded in the same event window S1alpha S2beta S1beta S2alpha 05/04/2017 Xesat 2017 - P.A.