Nuclear chemistry consists of a four-pronged endeavor made up of (a) studies of the
chemical and physical properties of the heaviest elements where detection of radioactive decay is an essential part of the work, (b) studies of nuclear properties such
as structure, reactions, and radioactive decay by people trained as chemists, (c)
studies of macroscopic phenomena (such as geochronology or astrophysics) where
nuclear processes are intimately involved, and (d) the application of measurement techniques based upon nuclear phenomena (such as nuclear medicine, activation analysis
or radiotracers) to study scientific problems in a variety of fields.