Question

I need to make a PowerPoint on something that involves radioactivity but can be explained in chemistry terms

I picked "X-rays" as my sub-topic

Answer 1

Sorry if this isn't clear

Answer 2

Emmm. Why have you written MRI? Nuclear magnetic resonance has nothing to do with radioactivity, nuclear refers to the spin of nuclei we change.

Answer 3

* The professor wrote all this on the board. I took a picture of it.

As far as I know nuclear = radioactive in some way or another

Answer 4

That is the common mistake with people who hears the word nuclear magnetic resonance. Take my word for it. I see it all the time :P

)I love to discuss this ones I get to work in 45 min if interested. I think I might have a good idea to explain this in terms of chemistry,

Answer 5

I'm pretty sure nuclear is radioactivity related... I mean it does say "nuclear medicine" at the bottom and you didn't tell me that was wrong

Answer 6

Either way, I picked "x-ray" for easiness

Answer 7

Okay, I looked MRIs up and they do \(not\) have radiation. Though I don't know where you got "nuclear" magnetic resonance from o_o

Answer 8

Haha. Told you :P the reason it is "nuclear" is because when you do NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) we change the spin of nuclei through a strong magnetic pulse. You indicate it is the nuclei with nuclear because you can do the same trick with electrons (electron paramagnetic resonance EPR).

So when you say x-rays it might be a good idea first to establish what kind of radiation this is? (\(\alpha\), \(\beta\) or \(\gamma\)).

Hisory I can say: the reason it was called x-rays was because it was really mysterious rays at the time so it was simply also given a mysterious name.

You can show the famous picture of Konrad Roentgen (for medical applications) and then talk about the penetration of matter by x-rays (when are x-rays blocked and why?)

These are just initial ideas. If still up for discussing let me know. :)

Answer 9

This image? http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/hand.gif

Answer 10

The closest you to radioactivity is the fact that after the proton has absorbed electromagnetic radiation and changed its orientation in the magnetic field, it has to emit its energy again through two processes.

Yes that is the picture.

Answer 11

...changed its orientation? what? o_e

Answer 12

This is what I have for the chemistry behind x-rays: http://prntscr.com/c3vdwm

Answer 13

Sorry it was about MRI. But now I stop talking about that. :P

Answer 14

I like it, although I like to discuss when you write this:
"But the earth atmosphere is thick enough to prevent x-rays passing through"

I give you a hit: Why do we use sun-block? :D

Answer 15

well the site says this idk
I don't want to claim it lied. Then I might get sued lol

Answer 16

Hmm... does this work then?
(from my slides)
"Since x-rays are radiation, this would be a concern, but the Earth's atmosphere is thick enough to prevent x-rays passing through (which is why x-rays have to be installed in outer space telescopes). Although, certain other types of radiation can still pass through."

Answer 17

Actually yeah it is alright and true. X-rays are blocked, I just toke the UV and x-ray region together. :)

Answer 18

Ahah okay
I still have the addendum in case :P

Answer 19

Here is the source I'm relying on for chemistry: http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/xrays.html

Answer 20

Ahh. In general it is very difficult to explain radioactivity in terms of chemistry as it is more physics.

If you want another place you use x-rays it is worth mentioning x-ray crystallography.

Answer 21

Since I'm not required to go into specifics about the history of radioactivity, I didn't mention Rutherford even though this link (below) talks about him... http://www2.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/4.html

Answer 22

Actually, the Rutherford part makes little to no sense. I just skipped over since we did learn about it in class and me presenting it would be redundant.

Crystallography?

Answer 23

So crystallographic we use to study molecular structures. We use x-rays due to their short wavelength to provide details on atomic level.

Answer 24

Hmm

*sorry, checking slide count so I don't go over 12 slides*

Would the slide count include title and end slides?

Answer 25

I don't know unfortunately. I guess it depends on whatever your professor thinks.

Answer 26

I would personally say no.

Answer 27

Blech. I think including would be unfortunate.
I'll keep it to 10 as the requirement is 10-12 slides

Answer 28

Better safe than sorry :D

Answer 29

Okay. So for application I would say X-rays are used in checking bone structure and fractures (etc)

Answer 30

And then that crystallography thing you said. Eh

Answer 31

Oh hey, this is nice. http://prntscr.com/c3vjwo

Answer 32

If you like. It is one of the topics I know is widely use in chemistry at least:
https://www.jic.ac.uk/staff/david-lawson/xtallog/summary.htm

Answer 33

I also found this: "We use satellites with X-ray detectors on them to do X-ray astronomy. In astronomy, things that emit X-rays (for example, black holes) are like the dentist's X-ray machine, and the detector on the satellite is like the X-ray film. X-ray detectors collect individual X-rays (photons of X-ray light) and things like the number of photons collected, the energy of the photons collected, or how fast the photons are detected, can tell us things about the object that is emitting them."

Answer 34

Seeing as I DID mention x-rays in space earlier

Answer 35

Not that much into astronomy, so it is probably right. I will admit I am mostly into the physics of radioactivity and use of x-rays in crystallographic.

Answer 36

I like the use of x-rays to see inside the body tbh. I'm a biology major aiming for pediatric healthcare but I might veer towards this profession later on

Answer 37

Hrm... I might not have room for the crystallography.

Answer 38

Again I would say no, but I think you should try stick within the limit.

Answer 39

Or not. I think the title and end slides shouldn't count.

This good for the works cited? http://prntscr.com/c3vmmj

Answer 40

Looking good. :)

Answer 41

What year are you on at college? :)

Answer 42

I graduated high school in '15

Answer 43

Ahh. Cool.

Answer 44

@Frostbite What would be a good conclusion to this presentation?

Answer 45

I mashed it in with "Looking to the Future" because I thought they would work together (i.e. *random conclusive sentence* And in the future...)

Answer 46

You don't really have a conclusion to draw as I see it, maybe a summery?

Answer 47

as finisher instead of conclusion

Answer 48

Yeah, a conclusive summary. And then I might add an "in the future" sentence

Answer 49

Professors love those "in the future".... (I hate those questions when I defend my thesis) :D So a good thing to add

Answer 50

HAHA, alright I will do that ☺

Answer 51

I read the link you provided, something's off
It's titled "Summary of Protein Crystallography" but after that it's all "X-ray Crystallography"

Answer 52

Is it okay to use the latter one then?

Answer 53

I would just recommend you read the two first paragraphs: "What is X-ray Crystallography?" and "Why use x-rays?"

Answer 54

And see if it has any interest for your presentation.

Answer 55

I'm using it, but idk how to title the page hahah

Answer 56

"X-ray Application in Crystallography" ?

Answer 57

You could site it as:
Summary of Protein Crystallography. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2016, from https://www.jic.ac.uk/staff/david-lawson/xtallog/summary.htm

Answer 58

No no not citing
Just the slide title with the info :P

Answer 59

Ahhh.. Then X-ray Application in Crystallography is good!

Answer 60

Alright

Answer 61

http://prntscr.com/c3w261 Medical application.

Answer 62

X-ray don't hurt as they pass through the body, but they CAN/DO cause radiation damage.

Answer 63

Okay, they don't CAUSE PAIN. lol

Answer 64

Just important to know they are harmfull :P If you have ever had a X-ray taken your self, you notice that they sometimes put a big box over your remaining body to prevent x-rays hitting unnecessary things to prevent unnecessary radiation damage. :)

Answer 65

We can take a perfect example: ME :D

I was unlucky to fall and thought I had my arm broken, so I had an x-ray taken, they placed my arm under the x-ray source and then put a big bag of led (that blocks x-rays) at my chest to prevent the x-rays from hitting my remaining body.

Answer 66

yikes

Answer 67

sounds painful (a bag of lead on your chest)?

Answer 68

Not that bad really. A little heavy, but it is important to block x-rays... else it can cause DNA damage (and as biology major you know what that means ;) )

Answer 69

True.

Also ... I don't need pictures for all the applications, do I? :\

Answer 70

I don't want to spam but those are pretty much the only places I'll be putting images. Aside from a picture of the Hand (lol) and Marie Curie

Answer 71

Hmmm usually slides with text only becomes boring, you could make it a rule: 1 picture / slide?

Answer 72

I think I'll just use it for the important ones

Answer 73

Like this. http://prntscr.com/c3w8r4 And one for Marie Curie ofc

Answer 74

That would do. Planning on going in detail regarding the penetration of matter by x-rays?

Answer 75

Nah. It's 4-5 minutes. I ain't got no time for that :p

Answer 76

Right right. Actually you do mention it with why x-rays penetrates the tissue but not the bones. :)

Answer 77

Yosh. :D

Answer 78

Hmm.... Er, I might have to sleep soon so I can get up for school tomorrow. Where do you live? (so we can meet on here later)

Answer 79

I'm from Denmark. So the other side of the globe.

Answer 80

Ack. What time is it over there? D:

Answer 81

12.

Answer 82

PM, AM?

Answer 83

But else just write here if you got a question and I answer it when I can! :)

Answer 84

Noon. so I guess that would be AM?

Answer 85

Noon is 12 PM haha.
Tomorrow at 1 PM my time I need to present. Earliest guess

Answer 86

Ok, I think I got it now, I gotta sleep
See you later?

Answer 87

radiomedicine is another application you can think about. Radioactive iodine is used to treat hyperthyroidism. Americium 241 is used in smoke alarms.

You want to be careful that you don't mix x-rays (radiation from electrons) with gamma rays (radiation from nuclei).

Answer 88

I already picked x-rays. @mww

Answer 89

But thank you for the suggestion