CHEM-360-krista_nishida-2026-09-25-12-27-23

Nuclear & Radiochemistry

CHEM 360

Fall Semesters

Number of Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Chem 101 or Chem 105, or concurrent enrollment.

Course Details

LECTURE, Dodgen 150: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays 8:10 – 9 am

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: Prof. Zachariah Heiden

Instructor Contact Information: email: zachariah.heiden@wsu.edu, phone: 509-335-0936

Office: Dodgen 250C Office hours: by appointment

Course Description

Chem 360 : Nuclear & Radiochemistry 3 Course Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Chem 101, 105, or instructor permission. Focuses on the fundamental principles of nuclear and radiochemistry. Nuclear theory, nuclear physics, nuclear structure, radiation safety, radiation effects on matter, detection of radioactive material, nuclear reactions, production and separation of radionuclides, and nuclear fuel cycle. Typically offered Fall. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.

Course Materials

Books: None Required

Below is a list of textbooks you may find useful as general references, Recommended.

“Measurement and Detection of Radiation” by N. Tsoulfanidis and S. Landsberger
(ISBN: 978-0367434014)
“Radiation Detection and Measurement" by Knoll (ISBN 978-0470131480)
“Nuclear and Radiochemistry” – 3^rd Edition by Kratz and Lieser (ISBN: 978-3527329014)

Other Materials: None

Fees: None

Learning Goals, Course Objectives:

Chemistry 360 is designed to advance students toward the WSU Learning Goals, especially Scientific Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, and Information Literacy. This course will provide undergraduate students with the foundational knowledge of the science of radioactive elements and radioactivity in general. The objective is to establish foundational knowledge in nuclear structure and effects of radiation on matter, then to use this foundational knowledge to understand the creation, behavior, and chemistry of radioactive elements and materials.

**Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) [add more lines if necessary]**
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:)	Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes	Assessment of the Learning Outcomes
Understand the effect of nuclear structure on the behavior of the nuclide	Lectures 1 – 18	Homework Sets Exams
Comprehend how ionizing radiation interacts with matter	Lectures 19 – 32	Homework Sets Exams
Understand the mechanisms and energetics of nuclear reactions	Lectures 17 – 36	Homework Sets Exams
Grasp the methods for production and separation of radionuclides	Lectures 28 – 36	Homework Sets Exams
Comprehend the principles of nuclear power, nuclear reactors, and the nuclear fuel cycle	Lectures 33 - 42	Homework Sets Exams

**Course Schedule**

**[Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]**
Dates	Lesson Topic	Assignment	Assessment
Week 1 [dates]	Chapter 1: Origin of Nuclear Science
Week 2 [dates]	Chapter 2: Elementary Particles	Homework #1
Week 3 [dates]	Chapter 3: Nuclei, Isotopes, and Isotope Separation	Homework #2
Week 4 [dates]	Chapter 4: Nuclear Mass Stability	Homework #3
Week 5 [dates]	Chapter 5: Unstable Nuclei and Radioactive Decay	Homework #4
Week 6 [dates]	Chapter 6: Nuclear Structure	Homework #5
Week 7 [dates]	Chapter 7: Absorption of Nuclear Radiation	Homework #6	Midterm Exam #1
Week 8 [dates]	Chapter 8: Radiation Effects on Matter	Homework #7
Week 9 [dates]	Chapter 9: Detection and Measurement Techniques	Homework #8
Week 10 [dates]	Chapter 10: Energetics of Nuclear Reactions	Homework #9
Week 11 [dates]	Chapter 11: Mechanisms and Models of Nuclear Reactions	Homework #10
Week 12 [dates]	Chapter 14: Actinide and Transactinide Elements	Homework #11
Week 13 [dates]	Chapter 17: Production of Radionuclides	Homework #12	Midterm Exam #2
Week 14 [dates]	Chapter 18: Uses of Radiotracers Chapter 19: Principles of Nuclear Power	Homework #13
Week 15 [dates]	Chapter 20: Nuclear Power Reactors Chapter 21: Nuclear Fuel Cycle	Homework #14
Finals Week			Final Exam

Expectations for Student Effort

For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of one hour of work outside class.

Grading [add more lines if necessary]

The grading scale will be administered in accordance to the policies of the WSU university registrar. The student's final grade will be based on homework sets, two midterm exams, and a final exam.

Assignment Breakdown
Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc)	Points	Percent of Overall Grade
Homework Sets	300	30
Midterm Exams	400	40
Final Exam	300	30

Grading Schema
Grade	Percent	Grade	Percent
A	92	C	72
A-	90	C-	70
B+	87	D+	67
B	82	D	62
B-	80	F	below 62
C+	77

HOMEWORK SETS: The homework sets will be assigned weekly on Monday and typically be due at 8:10 am on Friday of the following week. Late homework sets will not be accepted. There will be fourteen homework sets, with twelve highest scores counting towards the final grade (the lowest two scores will be dropped, if all fourteen are completed). Homework sets are designed to extend the knowledge of a student beyond the material discussed in class.

MIDTERM EXAMS: There will be two midterm exams and a comprehensive final given during class time. All exams will be short answer and administered in class. These exams are closed book and closed note exams. No make-up exams will be given. If you are unable to take a scheduled exam for documented academic reasons beyond your control, you will be allowed to schedule the exam at an earlier time.

FINAL EXAM: Final exams are scheduled for last week of the semester; the Final Exam Schedule is posted on the Registrar’s website (www.registrar.wsu.edu).

LECTURES: Lectures will be presented in person at the scheduled class time in Dodgen 150. A copy of the slides presented during a particular lecture will be available on Canvas within twenty-four hours after the lecture.

Attendance and Make-Up Policy

Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.

Academic Integrity Statement

All members of the university community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship. Students are responsible for understanding the full Academic Integrity Statement.

You are responsible for reading WSU’s Academic Integrity PolicyLinks to an external site., which is based on Washington State lawLinks to an external site.. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

Fail the assignment without the option for a retake.
Be reported to the Center for Community StandardsLinks to an external site..
Have the right to appeal my decision.
Not be able to drop the course or withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished.

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the formLinks to an external site. at the Center for Community StandardsLinks to an external site. website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.”