KJM5912 – Radiochemistry
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course provides a thorough introduction to nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry. The course is based on fundamental knowledge about radioactivity (equal to what you learn from for example the course KJM3900 – Radioactivity) and basic knowledge about chemistry. Based on this you learn how to use radioactivity as a tool for chemically related research and related fields (for example material science, biochemistry, and medicine). The course teaches you fundamental radiochemical methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of radionuclides in various media. Furthermore, you learn how radionuclides can be used as a tracer for following processes and reactions. The principles for the detection of radioactive radiation and material will be thoroughly covered, including counting statistics and uncertainty in such measurements.
Learning outcome
Good knowledge of the chemical properties and nuclear characteristics of the most important radionuclides:
- naturally occuring radionuclides (e.g. U, Th, Ra, Po, Pb)
- fission products (e.g Cs, Sr, Tc, I, etc.)
- tritium and radiocarbon
- activation products (e.g. Ni, Fe, Co, Mn)
- transurans (e.g. Np, Pu, Am, Cm)
How such radionuclides can be identified (based on their radioactive emissions) and determined analytically. In particular, the following methods will be learned:
- liquid Scintillation Counting for determining alpha and beta radiation
- using gas-filled detectors (Geiger-Müller detectors, etc.)
- gamma detection with NaI detectors
- isotope dilution analysis
- Szilard-Chalmers method for producing carrier-free radioactivity
- neutron activation analysis
Special characteristics of the chemistry and separations of radionuclides (trace concentrations, radiation, use of carriers, adsorption of radionuclides, hot-atom chemistry).
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Maximum 12 students due to Laboratory capacity. If more than 12 students apply they will be accepted in the following order:
- Ph.D. candidates at the MN-faculty
- Master students with the course in their approved study plan
- Master students at the MN faculty
- Others
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The safety when working with radioactive material is very strict. For this reason, it is demanded that the course KJM5903 – Radiation Protection is taken before KJM5912 – Radiochemistry, since the laboratory exercises include such work. These two courses are organized so that they are taken consecutively in the same semester.
Recommended previous knowledge
It is possible to take KJM3900 – Radioactivity in parallel to KJM5903 – Radiation Protection and KJM5912 – Radiochemistry, but it's recommended taking KJM3900 – Radioactivity in advance.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KJM9912 – Radiochemistry.
- 6 credits overlap with KJM5911 – Laboratorieøvelser i radiokjemi (discontinued).
- 4 credits overlap with KJM5901 – Radiochemical methods (discontinued).
Teaching
The teaching consists of:
- Lectures (26-30 hours)
- 6 days of laboratory exercises (with mandatory reports)
The course has 60 % hands-on exercises and laboratory work in radiochemical laboratories (type C) and 40 % lectures.
It is mandatory to attend the first lecture (including students on the waiting list). If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you must notify the Department of Chemistry before the start of the lecture, otherwise, your course registration will be canceled.
The mandatory laboratory exercises with reports must be approved before you can sit the final exam. Approved mandatory assignments are valid for six semesters after the semester they first were approved.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
- Folder exam with final oral exam.
The mandatory exercises and reports must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for the following course: KJM9912 – Radiochemistry
Examination support material
Table of nuclides.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.