B+Neutron+Activation+Analysis

=__Isotope and Radioactivity__= = =

__**NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS (NAA)**__
= = = = =Interesting facts:= - A nuclear reactor - An actinoid such as californium which produces neutrons through spontaneous fission. - An alpha source such as radium or americium, mixed with beryllium; this generates neutrons by a (α,12C+n) reaction. - A D-T reaction in a gas discharge tube radioactive. Following this the created radioisotopes decay and give off gamma rays that are characteristic of a certain element, therefore showing what is contained. This also creates a certain decay curve that is characteristic. =Advantages:= 2.** No sample digestion, extraction, volume loss, or dilution required.
 * 1.** A neutron activation analysis is a process used for determining how much and what certain element there is in an amount of materials. NAA allows for discrete sampling of the substance as it focuses solely on the nucleus of the chemical
 * 2.** This method is based on neutron activation and uses a variety of ways in order to collect neutrons
 * 3.** Neutrons are sent into samples that are believed to contain rare earth elements, the material then becomes highly
 * 4.** Accuracy of an neutron activation analysis determination is usually between two and ten percent of the reported value, depending on the element analyzed and its concentration in the sample.
 * 5.** With sequential instrumental neutron activation analysis it is possible to measure quantitatively about 60 elements in small samples (5 to 100 mg).
 * 1.** NAA is one of the most sensitive analytical techniques used for multi-element analysis available today and is able to provide both quantitative and qualitative results for individual elements**.
 * 3.** No potential for contamination due to handling or laboratory chemicals.

=Disadvantages:=
 * 1.** It can take a large amount of time to complete a full analysis.
 * 2.** It can be very expensive to conduct.
 * 3.** Since neutrons have different half lives they can affect the end result.

=Is it still used today?= Neutron activation analysis' are still used today, although not as popular for they are expensive and time consuming.