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What is radioisotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Isotopes of a particular element have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons. However, their physical properties are different because they have different number of neutrons Radioactive isotopes are called radioisotopes.
Properties of radioisotopse?
Radioactive radiations can kill cells. Radioactive radiations have different penetrating ability with materials of different thickness and densities Radioactive radiations can cause cell mutation. It Emits radioactive radiation. Its activity decreases with time
MEDICINE
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THYROID GLANDS:
Patients are given an intravenous injection of iodine-123 with a halflife of 13 hours or iodine-131 with a half-life of 8 days. A detector is placed near the thyroid to read its activity or function. A solution of sodium iodide labelled with radioactive iodine is also used to treat an overactive thyroid gland and certain kinds of thyroid cancer.
TRACER
BLOOD CLOTS:
Sodium-24 is injected into the bloodstream to detect the position of blood clots or thrombosis in the blood vessels. Can be detected and treated using phosphorus-32.
BRAIN TUMOR:
RADIOTERAP HY
STERILISATIO N
Gamma ray emitted from radioactive cobalt-60 can kill germs such as bacteria and fungus. Medical instruments such as surgical equipment, syringes and bandages can be sterilised by using gamma rays.
iNDUSTRIES
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This is done by placing a radioactive source at one side of the material and a detector on the other side. For sheets of metal,gamma rays are used. For plastics,clothes and paper,beta particles are used. The detector registers a higher count if the material is too thin and lower count if it is too thick. As a result,a computer will make the proper adjustment to the thickness of the material.
Testing for leakage of underground pipes can be done by adding sodium-24 into the water in the storage tank.
AGRICULTURE
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PEST CONTROL
TRACER
Radioisotopes such as nitrogen15 and phosphorus-32 can be used as tracers in the study of the effectiveness of fertilizers.
ARCHEOLOGY
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In the field of archaeology, it is important to be able to determine the age of artefacts. The method usually used for this purpose is called carbon dating. Cosmic radiations from outer space knock out neutrons from nuclei in the Earths upper atmosphere. The neutrons then collide with nitrogen nuclei to produce carbon14 However when living organisms die, no more carbon-14 is taken in. The carbon-14 in a dead plant or animal falls as the carbon-14 disintegrates.
During the formation of rocks, some radioisotopes such as uranium-238 are trapped. As the decay continues, the proportion of uranium-238 decreases slowly resulting in the equally slow growth of its product, lead-206. An estimate of the age of the rock can be inferred from the relative proportions of lead and uranium in the rock.
1. Which of the following radioisotopes is used in smoke detectors? A sodium-24 B Americium-241 C Cobalt-60 D Phosphorus-32
2. Isotopes are nuclides with the same A number of neutrons B atomic number C nucleon number
3. A piece of wood found in a cave of an archaeology site has a carbon-14 activity 25% of the activity from a live plant. Estimate the age of the wood. [Half-life of carbon-14 = 5730 years]
A B C D
4x3 16x9