Why is a scintillation counter or Geiger counter more useful for determining the existence and source of a new radiation leak than a film badge?
Table of contents
- 1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
- What is Chemistry?7m
- The Scientific Method9m
- Classification of Matter16m
- States of Matter8m
- Physical & Chemical Changes19m
- Chemical Properties8m
- Physical Properties5m
- Intensive vs. Extensive Properties13m
- Temperature (Simplified)9m
- Scientific Notation13m
- SI Units (Simplified)5m
- Metric Prefixes24m
- Significant Figures (Simplified)11m
- Significant Figures: Precision in Measurements7m
- Significant Figures: In Calculations19m
- Conversion Factors (Simplified)15m
- Dimensional Analysis22m
- Density12m
- Specific Gravity9m
- Density of Geometric Objects19m
- Density of Non-Geometric Objects9m
- 2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
- The Atom (Simplified)9m
- Subatomic Particles (Simplified)12m
- Isotopes17m
- Ions (Simplified)22m
- Atomic Mass (Simplified)17m
- Atomic Mass (Conceptual)12m
- Periodic Table: Element Symbols6m
- Periodic Table: Classifications11m
- Periodic Table: Group Names8m
- Periodic Table: Representative Elements & Transition Metals7m
- Periodic Table: Elemental Forms (Simplified)6m
- Periodic Table: Phases (Simplified)8m
- Law of Definite Proportions9m
- Atomic Theory9m
- Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment9m
- Wavelength and Frequency (Simplified)5m
- Electromagnetic Spectrum (Simplified)11m
- Bohr Model (Simplified)9m
- Emission Spectrum (Simplified)3m
- Electronic Structure4m
- Electronic Structure: Shells5m
- Electronic Structure: Subshells4m
- Electronic Structure: Orbitals11m
- Electronic Structure: Electron Spin3m
- Electronic Structure: Number of Electrons4m
- The Electron Configuration (Simplified)22m
- Electron Arrangements5m
- The Electron Configuration: Condensed4m
- The Electron Configuration: Exceptions (Simplified)12m
- Ions and the Octet Rule9m
- Ions and the Octet Rule (Simplified)8m
- Valence Electrons of Elements (Simplified)5m
- Lewis Dot Symbols (Simplified)7m
- Periodic Trend: Metallic Character4m
- Periodic Trend: Atomic Radius (Simplified)7m
- 3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
- Periodic Table: Main Group Element Charges12m
- Periodic Table: Transition Metal Charges6m
- Periodic Trend: Ionic Radius (Simplified)5m
- Periodic Trend: Ranking Ionic Radii8m
- Periodic Trend: Ionization Energy (Simplified)9m
- Periodic Trend: Electron Affinity (Simplified)8m
- Ionic Bonding6m
- Naming Monoatomic Cations6m
- Naming Monoatomic Anions5m
- Polyatomic Ions25m
- Naming Ionic Compounds11m
- Writing Formula Units of Ionic Compounds7m
- Naming Ionic Hydrates6m
- Naming Acids18m
- 4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
- Covalent Bonds6m
- Naming Binary Molecular Compounds6m
- Molecular Models4m
- Bonding Preferences6m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds (Simplified)8m
- Multiple Bonds4m
- Multiple Bonds (Simplified)6m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Multiple Bonds10m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Ions (Simplified)8m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Exceptions (Simplified)12m
- Resonance Structures (Simplified)5m
- Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (Simplified)4m
- Electron Geometry (Simplified)8m
- Molecular Geometry (Simplified)11m
- Bond Angles (Simplified)11m
- Dipole Moment (Simplified)15m
- Molecular Polarity (Simplified)7m
- 5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
- Chemical Reaction: Chemical Change5m
- Law of Conservation of Mass5m
- Balancing Chemical Equations (Simplified)13m
- Solubility Rules16m
- Molecular Equations18m
- Types of Chemical Reactions12m
- Complete Ionic Equations18m
- Calculate Oxidation Numbers15m
- Redox Reactions17m
- Spontaneous Redox Reactions8m
- Balancing Redox Reactions: Acidic Solutions17m
- Balancing Redox Reactions: Basic Solutions17m
- Balancing Redox Reactions (Simplified)13m
- Galvanic Cell (Simplified)16m
- 6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
- 7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
- Nature of Energy6m
- First Law of Thermodynamics7m
- Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions7m
- Bond Energy14m
- Thermochemical Equations12m
- Heat Capacity19m
- Thermal Equilibrium (Simplified)8m
- Hess's Law23m
- Rate of Reaction11m
- Energy Diagrams12m
- Chemical Equilibrium7m
- The Equilibrium Constant14m
- Le Chatelier's Principle23m
- Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)17m
- Spontaneous Reaction10m
- Entropy (Simplified)9m
- Gibbs Free Energy (Simplified)18m
- 8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
- Pressure Units6m
- Kinetic Molecular Theory14m
- The Ideal Gas Law18m
- The Ideal Gas Law Derivations13m
- The Ideal Gas Law Applications6m
- Chemistry Gas Laws16m
- Chemistry Gas Laws: Combined Gas Law12m
- Standard Temperature and Pressure14m
- Dalton's Law: Partial Pressure (Simplified)13m
- Gas Stoichiometry18m
- Intermolecular Forces (Simplified)19m
- Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties11m
- Atomic, Ionic and Molecular Solids10m
- Heating and Cooling Curves30m
- 9. Solutions4h 10m
- Solutions6m
- Solubility and Intermolecular Forces18m
- Solutions: Mass Percent6m
- Percent Concentrations10m
- Molarity18m
- Osmolarity15m
- Parts per Million (ppm)13m
- Solubility: Temperature Effect8m
- Intro to Henry's Law4m
- Henry's Law Calculations12m
- Dilutions12m
- Solution Stoichiometry14m
- Electrolytes (Simplified)13m
- Equivalents11m
- Molality15m
- The Colligative Properties15m
- Boiling Point Elevation16m
- Freezing Point Depression9m
- Osmosis16m
- Osmotic Pressure9m
- 10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
- Acid-Base Introduction11m
- Arrhenius Acid and Base6m
- Bronsted Lowry Acid and Base18m
- Acid and Base Strength17m
- Ka and Kb12m
- The pH Scale19m
- Auto-Ionization9m
- pH of Strong Acids and Bases9m
- Acid-Base Equivalents14m
- Acid-Base Reactions7m
- Gas Evolution Equations (Simplified)6m
- Ionic Salts (Simplified)23m
- Buffers25m
- Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation16m
- Strong Acid Strong Base Titrations (Simplified)10m
- 11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
- BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
- BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
- 12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
- 13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
- 14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
- 15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
- 16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
- 17. Amines39m
- 18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
- 19. Enzymes1h 37m
- 20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
- Intro to Carbohydrates4m
- Classification of Carbohydrates4m
- Fischer Projections4m
- Enantiomers vs Diastereomers8m
- D vs L Enantiomers8m
- Cyclic Hemiacetals8m
- Intro to Haworth Projections4m
- Cyclic Structures of Monosaccharides11m
- Mutarotation4m
- Reduction of Monosaccharides10m
- Oxidation of Monosaccharides7m
- Glycosidic Linkage14m
- Disaccharides7m
- Polysaccharides2m
- 21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
- 22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
- 23. Lipids2h 26m
- Intro to Lipids6m
- Fatty Acids25m
- Physical Properties of Fatty Acids6m
- Waxes4m
- Triacylglycerols12m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrogenation8m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrolysis13m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Oxidation7m
- Glycerophospholipids15m
- Sphingomyelins13m
- Steroids15m
- Cell Membranes7m
- Membrane Transport10m
- 24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
- 25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
- 26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m
- Intro to Nucleic Acids4m
- Nitrogenous Bases16m
- Nucleoside and Nucleotide Formation9m
- Naming Nucleosides and Nucleotides13m
- Phosphodiester Bond Formation7m
- Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids11m
- Base Pairing10m
- DNA Double Helix6m
- Intro to DNA Replication20m
- Steps of DNA Replication11m
- Types of RNA10m
- Overview of Protein Synthesis4m
- Transcription: mRNA Synthesis9m
- Processing of pre-mRNA5m
- The Genetic Code6m
- Introduction to Translation7m
- Translation: Protein Synthesis18m
11. Nuclear Chemistry
Measuring Radioactivity
Problem 9
Textbook Question
A 1.00 mL sample of red blood cells containing chromium-51 as a tracer was injected into a patient. After several hours, a 5.00 mL sample of blood was drawn and its activity compared to the activity of the injected tracer sample. If the collected sample activity was 0.10% of the original tracer, calculate the total blood volume of the patient (see the Chemistry in Action 'Medical Uses of Radioactivity,' p. 338).

1
Step 1: Understand the problem. The goal is to calculate the total blood volume of the patient using the dilution principle. The activity of the tracer in the collected blood sample is 0.10% of the original tracer activity, and the relationship between the activity and the blood volume can be used to determine the total blood volume.
Step 2: Write the dilution equation. The dilution equation is based on the principle that the total activity of the tracer remains constant. The equation is:
C 1 V 1 = C 2 V 2 , where C 1 and V 1 are the concentration and volume of the original tracer sample, and C 2 and V 2 are the concentration and volume of the diluted sample (the patient's total blood volume).
Step 3: Express the relationship between the concentrations. Since the activity of the collected sample is 0.10% of the original tracer activity, we can write:
C 2 = 0.001 × C 1 . Substitute this into the dilution equation.
Step 4: Rearrange the equation to solve for the total blood volume (V 2 ). The equation becomes:
V 2 = (C 1 V 1 ) / C 2 . Substitute C 2 = 0.001 × C 1 into the equation, which simplifies to:
V 2 = V 1 / 0.001 .
Step 5: Substitute the known values into the equation. The volume of the original tracer sample (V 1 ) is 1.00 mL. Substitute this value into the equation:
V 2 = 1.00 / 0.001 . Perform the division to find the total blood volume of the patient.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radioactive Tracers
Radioactive tracers are substances that emit radiation and are used in medical diagnostics to track biological processes. In this context, chromium-51 serves as a tracer to monitor the distribution and volume of blood in the patient. By measuring the radioactivity of the blood sample, healthcare professionals can infer the total blood volume based on the known activity of the injected tracer.
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Dilution Principle
The dilution principle states that the concentration of a substance decreases as it is distributed in a larger volume. In this scenario, the activity of the tracer in the drawn blood sample is a fraction of the original activity, allowing for the calculation of the total blood volume. By knowing the initial volume of the tracer and its activity, one can determine how much blood is present in the patient based on the diluted activity measured.
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Activity Measurement
Activity measurement refers to the quantification of radioactive decay events occurring in a sample over time, typically expressed in counts per minute (CPM) or becquerels (Bq). In this case, the activity of the blood sample is compared to the original tracer's activity to assess how much of the tracer remains in the bloodstream. This comparison is crucial for calculating the total blood volume based on the proportion of tracer activity detected.
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