CHED 115 |
| A visual approximation method for the seven-step radioactive alpha decay chain of Xe144 to Nd144 will be presented. Using Excel, approximation of the species levels with respect to time is quickly generated using a step-wise approximation approach. This approach assumes that only the parent species is present initially and assumes a small initial lag in starting each consecutive step. Other required assumptions will be discussed. Conditions under which the approximation approach is not appropriate will also be presented. In this numerical method, using the known half-lives, only two equations are actually needed to determine all of the daughter concentrations. The data is then plotted to show classic rise and fall reaction sequence curves. This approach is particularly useful in presenting sequential reaction series in an algebra-based physical chemistry course allowing students to easily visualize and manipulate complex sequential reaction problems. This can be quickly adapted to any number of sequential steps, unlike the analytic solutions which is unintuitive past a two-step sequence. Direct comparison of the numerical and analytic solution for the seven step radioactive decay sequence will be presented. |
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General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Sci-Mix
Division of Chemical Education |