NationStates Jolt Archive

Does anyone know of any chemicals that will become lumincent when they encounter ionising radiation?

Off the top of my head, I would think that wouldn't work. If something is ionized, the electron leaves the atom completely, and thus cannot drop back down to a lower energy state and fluoresce.

Does anyone know of any chemicals that will become lumincent when they encounter ionising radiation?

Yes.

Off the top of my head, I would think that wouldn't work. If something is ionized, the electron leaves the atom completely, and thus cannot drop back down to a lower energy state and fluoresce.

It doesnt have to be ionised. It just has to encounter the radiation. Alpha, beta or gamma radiation. Just covering all the types there. Alpha radiaton hits paper but the paper doesnt become ionised.

Yes.

Good, can you tell me what they are.

Does anyone know of any chemicals that will become lumincent when they encounter ionising radiation?
The name of one escapes me.

It doesnt have to be ionised. It just has to encounter the radiation. Alpha, beta or gamma radiation. Just covering all the types there. Alpha radiaton hits paper but the paper doesnt become ionised.

Not sure why you called it ionising radiation then...

But anyway, under your new definition, sure, plenty. Anything where an electron needs gamma ray level energy to go up to an excited state.

Off the top of my head, I would think that wouldn't work. If something is ionized, the electron leaves the atom completely, and thus cannot drop back down to a lower energy state and fluoresce.
Some ions acquire the extraneous electrons from the aforementioned ionized atoms, but that really isn't the point of the question.

Good, can you tell me what they are.

Lithium flouride.

And why do you want to know, anyhow? A tad suspicious if you ask me.

Well, I'm only in the 1st year of high school chemistry, but I'd think the noble gases, halogens, and straight metals would do that. Compounds not so much. I don't know though.

Not sure why you called it ionising radiation then...

But anyway, under your new definition, sure, plenty. Anything where an electron needs gamma ray level energy to go up to an excited state.
And then fall back down.:D

Lithium flouride.

And why do you want to know, anyhow? A tad suspicious if you ask me.

Its for an essay I'm doing

The question is "How do you communicate the danger of radioactivity at Soviet Nuclear Accident sites over a period of tens of thousands of years when language will likely not be stable over such a period?"

I figured if the area was glowing erriely it would be one way of warning people

Lithium flouride.

And why do you want to know, anyhow? A tad suspicious if you ask me.
Not really. The question wasn't about Francium or Cobalt-60.:p

Its for an essay I'm doing

The question is "How do you communicate the danger of radioactivity at Soviet Nuclear Accident sites over a period of tens of thousands of years when language will likely not be stable over such a period?"

I figured if the area was glowing erriely it would be one way of warning people
Heh. Odd topic for an essay.

BwO: Oh, do calm down. It's highly unlikely a potential terrorist/what have you is going to come onto NATIONSTATES for info. >_>

BwO: Oh, do calm down. It's highly unlikely a potential terrorist/what have you is going to come onto NATIONSTATES for info. >_>

We are all potential terrorists.

Its for an essay I'm doing

The question is "How do you communicate the danger of radioactivity at Soviet Nuclear Accident sites over a period of tens of thousands of years when language will likely not be stable over such a period?"

I figured if the area was glowing erriely it would be one way of warning people
Put them in water. The blue glow that results is enough of a warning, if not, the water should shield enough of the radiation.


Or you could just do it the better way, and put some of the stuff open, above ground. The dead bodies scattered around it should more and do the trick.

We are all potential terrorists.
No, I'm not. I don't have the social connections for it.:D What makes potential terrorists is the social and hermit connections to get the job done.

Put them in water. The blue glow that results is enough of a warning, if not, the water should shield enough of the radiation.


Or you could just do it the better way, and put some of the stuff open, above ground. The dead bodies scattered around it should more and do the trick.
And it's in the former Soviet republics, so you know they have people to spare.