Re: electron densities

["Robert Gunter" <rjgunter@icnpharm.com>]

Electron densities are relatively easy to calculate.

First you determine the percent composition of each atom.  This can be
either given by weight or in a chemical formula.

Next determine the density of the material.

Determine the effective density of each component element ie, C, N, O, in
g/cm^3

Convert this to Atoms/cm^3 by determining the number of moles and using
avogadros number.

Multiply the atoms/cm^3 by the Z for each element

Sum them up for the electrons/cm^3

Examples of this calculation are provided in Cember.

Lots of HP books have scattered references to the atomic composition of
common materials.

Rob


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Robert J. Gunter         Tel: (714) 545-0100

Sr. Technical Specialist      Tel: (800) 548-5100 Ext. 2414

ICN Biomedicals, Inc.         Fax: (714) 668-3149

Dosimetry Division       Email: rjgunter@icnpharm.com

3300 Hyland Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA  92626