• Question: Do any of your jobs involve nuclear shielding? If so, what is it and what does it involve?

    Asked by Hilary to Jesus, Baljit on 19 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Jesus Calvo-Castro

      Jesus Calvo-Castro answered on 19 Nov 2015:

      Hi @Hilary. You probably have heard nuclear shielding when studying NMR spectroscopy or even when talking about the periodic properties. Imagine that all the electron in an atom are placed in different levels called orbitals around the central nucleus. The strength that the protons in the nucleus exert on these electrons (positive protons attract negatively charged electrons) will depend on the number of protons and electrons and the number of orbitals filled. If you have many many orbitals, then the force of the protons over the outer electrons is not very strong. This determines many of the periodic properties such as the size (also allows you to compare the size of neutral atoms to cations and anions) and the electronegative or ionisation potential

    • Photo: Baljit Ghatora

      Baljit Ghatora answered on 19 Nov 2015:

      @hilary- the nuclear shielding effect is applied to elements from the periodic table- they are due to the shells that surround the nucleus…if you imagine the greater number of shells (due to more electrons). The more the nucleus is protected.

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