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005 20231116165549.0
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022 _a0021-9584
037 _bRIEBPL Library
082 _a540.7
100 _aKirsten E. Martin, Angus J. Koller, and Eszter Boros
245 _aRadioactivity and U-235: An Educational Card Game to Introduce Nuclear Decay and the Benefits, Risks, and Safe Handling Strategies for Radionuclides
_b (Journal Article)
260 _aUSA
_b:American Chemical Society
_cAugust 2023
300 _a3151-3155 P.
490 _aAmerican Chemical Society, Volume 100, Issue 8
505 _a***______{For Hard Copy, Please visit Library.}________***
520 _aAbstract Radioactive isotopes are an essential part of everyday life and an expanding area of research in the fields of medicine, catalysis, and energy. Here, we describe an educational activity that introduces the concept of radioactive decay and the corresponding benefits, risks, and safe handling strategies. Specifically, we have developed an interactive card game, Radioactivity and 235U, as an activity which can be implemented in a fully remote setting without the need for a trained instructor or specific, previously acquired expertise. The card game consists of 72 playing cards and 50 tokens and contains links to two remotely accessible introductory videos on (1) fundamental concepts of radioactive decay and (2) instructions on gameplay. The goal of this activity is to familiarize students with the concepts of radioactive decay, shielding, and applications of radioactive isotopes. Gameplay incentivizes students to prevent, reduce, or limit exposure to a radioactive dose by collecting and using shielding cards, while also learning facts about radioactive isotopes and their stable congeners. The game was tested with undergraduate college students. Pre- and postactivity questionnaires measured the students’ familiarity and opinion on the use and harm of radioactivity. The results indicate that the activity is suitable to introduce basic concepts surrounding radionuclides, radioactive decay, and shielding. We additionally observed a shift in students’ opinions of nuclear chemistry and its role in the world from neutral to slightly positive after the workshop.
650 _aRadioactivity
650 _aDecay Radiation
650 _aShielding Nuclear/Radiochemistry Card Game
856 _u https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00478
942 _cPER
999 _c44900
_d44899