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Published on: April 12, 2017
A novel application for 222Rn emanation standards: radon-cryptophane host chemistry
L Laureano-Perez1, R Collé, D R Jacobson
1Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology,(1) 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462, USA. lizbeth.laureano-perez@nist.gov
Summary
Researchers measured radon
Area of Science:
- Chemistry
- Molecular Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Radon's interaction with molecular hosts is not well understood.
- Accurate measurement of radon binding is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the binding affinity of radon to a cryptophane molecular host.
- To establish a quantitative measure for radon-host interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a (222)Radon emanation source, similar to NIST standards.
- Performed reactions at femtomole levels with precise gravimetric sampling.
- Conducted accurate (222)Radon assays using liquid scintillation counting.
Main Results:
- Determined the cryptophane-radon association constant (K(A)) at 293 K.
- The measured association constant was (49,000±12,000) L mol(-1).
- This represents the first quantitative measurement of radon binding to a molecular host.
Conclusions:
- Successfully quantified the binding affinity of radon to a cryptophane molecular host.
- The study provides a foundational measurement for radon-host interactions.
- Highlights the potential of molecular hosts for radon interaction studies.
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