Chemical inhibitions of radioactive elements

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of chemically inhibiting ionizing radiation from radioactive elements, particularly in the context of nuclear waste storage. Participants clarify that while materials like lead can attenuate radiation, chemical methods alone are insufficient for effective radiation blocking. The conversation highlights that nuclear radiation mechanisms differ fundamentally from chemical interactions, emphasizing that chemistry's role is limited to structuring materials rather than blocking radiation. Notably, research indicates that the electronic structure of materials can influence radioactivity, as evidenced by studies on beryllium-7's half-life changes in different chemical environments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear radiation mechanisms
  • Familiarity with chemical bonding and electron interactions
  • Knowledge of radiation shielding materials, such as lead
  • Awareness of advanced spectroscopy techniques, including Mossbauer spectroscopy
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of chemical environments on nuclear decay rates
  • Explore the principles of radiation shielding and attenuation
  • Investigate the applications of Mossbauer spectroscopy in nuclear studies
  • Examine the role of electron density in nuclear reactions and decay
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, nuclear engineers, and researchers in radiation safety and waste management will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the intersection of chemistry and nuclear physics.

Mayhem
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Is it possible to chemically inhibit (block/absorb) ionizing radiation from radioactive elements, and is any research being done in this area to use it for long term storage of nuclear waste (in conjunction with other precautions, of course)?
 
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Mayhem said:
chemically inhibit (block/absorb) ionizing radiation
What does this mean? Why isn't blocking it with lead, for example, something that fits this description?
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
What does this mean? Why isn't blocking it with lead, for example, something that fits this description?
If you could chemically inhibit, let's say, depleted uranium atomically such that the radiation is weakened, then transportation loads could be made lighter and accidental spills would be less catastrophic.
 
Lead attenuates (is that what you mean by "weaken"?) the radiation.
 
Mayhem said:
Is it possible to chemically inhibit (block/absorb) ionizing radiation from radioactive elements
In case of (any dangerous level/type of) radiation, the chemical bonds and radiation are just not playing in the same league. Shielding/absorbing in general is done through mechanical means (radiation bashing around atoms, electrons, nuclei and losing energy while bouncing back and forth)(well, mostly true, up to a certain value of 'true'), since this has no upper limit on energy transfer.
Chemistry has.

The only say chemistry has in this matter is about holding the right obstacles in right place in a convenient way.
 
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Blocking radiation chemically is sort of like blocking sound with a single sheet of paper, or a light beam with a single sheet of glass.

Chemical bonds involve the sharing of orbital Electrons between different atoms.

Nuclear Radiation is when a sub-atomic particular is emitted from the nucleus of an atom, and has nothing to do with the Electrons in orbit.

They are two completely different mechanisms.

Cheers,
Tom
 
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There are a few prominent instances where the electronic structure of a material will affect its radioactivity. Probably the most well-known is the case where a nucleus undergoes electron capture (inverse beta decay) as a decay mechanism. The half-life is dependent on the electron density at the nucleus, which is dependent on the chemical environment of the atom.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.112501
In this PRL paper, beryllium-7 was observed to have a shorter half life (by several percent) when placed inside a fullerene. The higher electron density at the beryllium nucleus makes electron capture more likely, shortening the half life.

In principle, the half life for alpha decay should also change slightly when the electron density at the nucleus changes, as the Coulomb portion of the potential that the alpha has to tunnel through is altered. I have a vague memory of a paper from long ago saying this effect is very very small.

Technically, I guess Mossbauer spectroscopy falls into this camp too. The energy of a gamma photon emitted from an excited nucleus (usually Fe-57 or some cobalt nucleus) changes depending on the chemical environment the nucleus is in.
 
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None of that has any relevance to the OP's application of storing nuclear waste.
 

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