Re: Macalaster Scientific Corp. "Radioactive Materials Kit"

["William CTR Kolb"<William.CTR.Kolb@faa.gov>]

     Erick,
     
     I believe these kits were made by Eduquip Inc. but sold through 
     various supply catalogs under different names. The plastic cubes 
     contained a gram or two of uranium sulfate, sodium sulfate, uranium 
     nitrate, sodium nitrate, thorium nitrate, and sulfur. The lettered 
     cubes were placed on a sheet of film for three days. By observing 
     which cubes fogged film, the student could deduce which elements were 
     radioactive and then confirm it with a Geiger counter. By looking at 
     the chemical formulas, the student then deduced which elements were 
     radioactive. A current version of this kit is available from a couple 
     of suppliers. It uses small, sealed plastic bags of the same chemicals 
     rather than cubes. Thorium Nitrate is deliquescent and often 
     liquifies, contaminating the container and materials in these sets, so 
     a little caution is advised.
     
     bill
     william.ctr.kolb@faa.gov


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Macalaster Scientific Corp. "Radioactive Materials Kit" 
Author:  <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu> at SMTPgate
Date:    08/31/1999 5:18 PM


A local high school just gave our Hazwaste Manager eleven of those kits. 
Does anybody out there have anything more specific regarding the 
compounds found in the those kits. 
Any help would be appreciated. . .
Regards

-Erick Lindstrom
     
Erick Lindstrom
Radiation Safety Officer
Montana State University
1160 Research Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718-6856 
Voice: (406) 582-5477, 5479, 5485
Fax:(406) 586-2478 - if number not working use 582-5700
e-mail: avrel@montana.edu

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