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Chapter 19 Radioactivi ty and Nuclear Chemistry Roy Kennedy Massachusetts Bay Community College Wellesley Hills, MA Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 2nd Ed. By Nivaldo Tro Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 19 Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry Roy Kennedy Massachusetts Bay Community College Wellesley Hills, MA Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 2nd

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Chapter 19Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry

Roy KennedyMassachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, MA

Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 2nd Ed. By Nivaldo Tro

Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

The Discovery of Radioactivity

2

• Phosphorescence is the long-lived emission of light by atoms or molecules that sometimes occurs after they absorb light

• Antoine-Henri Becquerel designed an experiment to determine if phosphorescent minerals gave off X-rays

Becquerel observed that only some phosphorescent materials produced penetrating rays

While certain other minerals were constantly producing energy rays that could penetrate matter

The rays behaved like X-rays

He determined that all minerals that contained uranium produced “uranic rays” even though the minerals were not exposed to outside energy

The Discovery of RadioactivityMarie Curie

3

• X-rays were detected by their ability to penetrate matter and expose a photographic plate

• Marie Curie broke down the minerals and used an electroscope to detect the source of the uranic rays

she found that rays were emitted from uranium and other elements

Some of which were new elements, e.g. radium named for its green

phosphorescence polonium named for her homeland, Poland.

• Because the rays were no longer just a property of uranium, she called the rays radioactivity

Electroscope++

+ +++

When a positive charge is induced on the metal foils, they

spread apart due to+ charge repulsion

When a substance producing ionizing

radiation is placed in the flask, the radiation knocks

electrons off the air molecules and onto the + charged foils. As a result,

the + charge is discharged, allowing the two foils to come back

together4

Other Properties of Radioactivity

5

• Radioactive rays can ionize matter, andcan cause uncharged matter to become charged

basis of Geiger Counter and electroscope

• Radioactive raysare high energycan penetrate mattercan cause chemicals to phosphoresce

basis of scintillation counter

What Is Radioactivity?

• Radioactivity is the release of tiny, high-energy particles or gamma rays from an atom

• Particles are ejected from the nucleus

6

Types of Radioactive Decay

7

• Rutherford discovered three types of rays

alpha () rays charge +2 c.u. (charge units) mass 4 amu helium nucleus

beta () rays Charge −1 c.u. negligible mass electron-like

gamma (rays light energy not a particle like andrays

Rutherford’s Experiment

++++++++++++

--------------

8

• Positively charged particle attracted to the – plate• Travels further, deflected more slowly, higher mass

• Negatively charged particle attracted to the + plate• Deflected quickly, low mass

• Gamma ray, not deflected by charged plates• Light energy, not particle

Types of Radioactive Decay

9

In addition, some unstable nuclei can

• Emit Positrons a positively charged electron

• Undergo Electron capture low energy electron pulled into the nucleus

Penetrating Ability of Radioactive Rays

0.01 mm 1 mm 100 mm

Pieces of Lead

10

Facts About the Nucleus•Volume of the atom >> than volume of nucleus

•Entire mass of atom in the nucleus

•Nucleus is very dense

•Composed of nucleons (protons and neutrons) that are tightly held together

•Every atom of an element has the same number of protons = the atomic number (Z)

•Atoms of the same elements can have different numbers of neutrons, therefore different atomic masses, isotopes

• Isotopes are identified by their mass number (A)mass number = number of protons + neutrons

11

# protons = Zatomic mass = A

# neutrons = A – Z

Radioactivity

• The nucleus of an isotope is called a nuclideAll nuclides with 84 or more protons are radioactive

>90% of known nuclides are radioactive, i.e. radionuclides which are unstable and decompose radioactive decay, which involves the nuclide emitting a

particle and/or energy

• The radioactive nucleus, the parent nuclide, spontaneously decomposes into smaller nucleus, the daughter nuclide

• Each nuclide is identified by a symbol

12

Important Atomic Symbols

13

Transmutation

14

• Rutherford discovered that during the radioactive process, atoms of one element are changed into atoms of a different element – transmutationshowing that statement 3 of Dalton’s Atomic Theory is

valid only for chemical reactions, but not for nuclear chemistry

• For one element to change into another, the number of protons in the nucleus must change!

Chemical Processes vs. Nuclear Processes

• Chemical reactions involve changes in the electronic structure of the atomatoms gain, lose, or share electronsno change in the nuclei occurs

• Nuclear reactions involve changes in the structure of the nucleuswhen the number of protons in the nucleus

changes, the atom becomes a different element

15

Nuclear Equations

• We describe nuclear processes with nuclear equations

• Use the symbol of the nuclide’s element to represent the nucleus

• Atomic (Z) and the mass numbers (A) are conserved the mass # (A) of the daughter nuclide + A of the emitted

particle must = that of the parent nuclide the atomic number (Z) of the daughter nuclide + Z of the

emitted particle must equal that of the parent nuclide

16

Alpha Emission

17

88222Ra

24He

86218Rn

• An particle contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons = helium nucleus

• Most ionizing, but least penetrating of the types of radioactivity

• Loss of an alpha particle meansatomic number, Z, decreases by 2mass number, A, decreases by 4

Beta Emission

18

• A particle is like an electronmoving much fasterproduced from the nucleus

• ~10 times more penetrating than the particle, but only about half the ionizing ability

• When an atom loses a particle itsatomic number increases by 1 (+1 proton, -1 neutron)mass number remains the same

• In beta decay, a neutron changes into a proton

Gamma Emission

19

• Gamma () rays are high energy photons of light

• No loss of particles from the nucleus• No change in the composition of the nucleus

same atomic number and mass number• Least ionizing, but most penetrating• Generally occurs after the nucleus undergoes

some other type of decay and the remaining particles rearrange

Positron Emission

20

• Positron’s have a charge of +1 c.u. and negligible massanti-electron

• Similar to beta particles in their ionizing and penetrating ability

• When an atom loses a positron from the nucleus, itsmass number remains the sameatomic number decreases by 1

• Positrons result from a proton changing into a neutron

21

Electron Capture

22

• Occurs when an inner orbital electron is pulled into the nucleus

• No particle emission, but atom changessame result as positron emission

• Proton combines with the electron to make a neutronmass number stays the sameatomic number decreases by one

Particle Changes

23

24

What Kind of Decay and How Many Protons and Neutrons Are in the Daughter?

Alpha emission giving a daughter nuclide withnine protons and seven neutrons

11 p+

9 n0

25

= proton

= neutron

? +

? +

What Kind of Decay and How Many Protons and Neutrons Are in the Daughter?,

Continued

Beta emission giving a daughter nuclide with10 protons and 11 neutrons

9 p+

12 n0

26

= proton

= neutron

= electron

What Kind of Decay and How Many Protons and Neutrons Are in the Daughter?,

Continued

Positron emission giving a daughter nuclide withfour protons and five neutrons

5 p+

4 n0

27

? +

= proton

= neutron

= positron

Nuclear Equations

28

• In the nuclear equation, mass numbers and atomic numbers are conserved

• We can use this fact to determine the identity of a daughter nuclide if we know the parent and mode of decay

Example 19.2b: Write the nuclear equation for positron emission from K–40

1. Write the nuclide symbols for both the starting radionuclide and the particle

29

Examle 19.2b: Write the nuclear equation for positron emission from K–40

2. Set up the equation• emitted particles are products

• captured particles are reactants

30

Example 19.2b: Write the nuclear equation for positron emission from K–40

3. Determine the mass number and atomic number of the missing nuclide

• mass and atomic numbers are conserved

31

Example 19.2b: Write the nuclear equation for positron emission from K–40

4. Identify and determine the symbol of the element with atomic number 18

32

Write a nuclear equation for the following

33

alpha emission from U–238

beta emission from Ne–24

positron emission from N–13

electron capture by Be–7

What Causes Nuclei to Decompose? N/Z Ratio

• Nucleons are held together by a very strong attractive force only found in the nucleus called the strong forceOnly acts over very short distances

• Neutrons add to the strong force and stabilize the nucleusbut don’t repel each other like the protons

• The neutron : proton ratio is an important measure of the stability of the nucleus If N/Z is too high, neutrons are converted to protons via

decay If N/Z is too low, protons are converted to neutrons via

positron emission or electron capture or via decay – though not as efficiently

34

Valley of Stability

for Z = 1 20, stable N/Z ≈ 1

for Z = 20 40, stable N/Z approaches 1.25

for Z = 40 80, stable N/Z approaches 1.5

for Z > 83, there are no stable nuclei

35

Example 19.3b: Predict the kind of radioactive decay that Mg−22 undergoes

• Mg–22Z = 12N = 22 – 12 = 10

• N/Z = 10/12 = 0.83• From Z = 1 20, stable

nuclei have N/Z ≈ 1• Because Mg–22 N/Z is

low, it should convert p+ into n0, therefore it will undergo positron emission or electron capture

36

Predict whether Kr–85 is stable or radioactive. If radioactive, predict the mode of radioactive

decay and the daughter nuclide.Kr–85 has Z = 36 and N = (85 − 36) = 49

Because the N/Z ratio of Kr–85 is greater than 1.25, it has too many neutrons and will undergo decay to reduce them

Because most stable isotopes with Z between 20 and 40 have N/Z ratios between 1 and 1.25, we expect Kr–85 to be radioactive

(Kr–85 is a byproduct of nuclear fission and was released into the atmosphere when atom bombs were tested in the 1940’s to 1960’s)

37

Magic Numbers• The N/Z ratio is important for nuclear stability, however the

actual numbers of protons and neutrons affects stability Most stable nuclei have even numbers of protons and neutrons Only a few have odd numbers of protons and neutrons

• If the total number of nucleons adds to a magic number, the nucleus is more stable same principle as stability of the

noble gas electron configuration Magic numbers are when

N or Z = 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82; or N = 126 most stable

38

Decay Series

39

• Often, one radioactive nuclide changes into another radioactive nuclide i.e. the daughter nuclide is also radioactive

• When radioactive nuclides are produced one from another, until a stable nuclide is made, we call this a decay series

• To determine the stable nuclide at the end of the series without writing it all out

1. count the number of and decays

2. from the mass no. subtract 4 for each decay

3. from the atomic no. subtract 2 for each decay and add 1 for each

U-238 Decay Series

or

or other combinations

40

Detecting RadioactivityTo detect something, you need to identify what it does

• Radioactive rays can expose light-protected photographic film

• Therefore, photographic film can be used to detect the presence of radioactive rays – film badge dosimeters

41

• Radioactive rays cause air to become ionized• An electroscope detects radiation by its ability to

penetrate the flask and ionize the air inside• A Geiger counter works by counting electrons

generated when Ar gas atoms are ionized by radioactive rays

Detecting Radioactivity• Radioactive rays cause certain chemicals to

give off a flash of light when they strike the chemical

• A scintillation counter is able to count the number of flashes per minute

42

Natural Radioactivity• There are small amounts of radioactive

minerals in the air, ground, water, and even in the food you eat!

• The radiation you are exposed to from natural sources is called background radiation

Rate of Radioactive Decay

43

• The rate of change in the amount of radioactivity is constant, and different for each radioactive “isotope”change in radioactivity measured with a Geiger counter

• Each radionuclide had a particular length of time required to lose half its radioactivity a constant half-life, which means it follows first order

kinetic rate laws

• The rate of radioactive change is not affected by temperaturemeaning radioactivity is not a chemical reaction!

Kinetics of Radioactive Decay• Rate = kNN = number of radioactive nuclei

• t1/2 = 0.693/ka shorter half-life means that more nuclei decay every second – the sample is hotter

44

Nuclide Half-Life Type of Decay

Th–232 1.4 x 1010 yr alpha

U–238 4.5 x 109 yr alpha

C–14 5730 yr beta

Rn–220 55.6 sec alpha

Th–219 1.05 x 10–6 sec alpha

Half-LifeHalf of the radioactive atoms decay each half-life

45

46

Example19.4: If you have a 1.35 mg sample of Pu–236, calculate the mass that will remain after 5.00 years

47

units are correct, the magnitude makes because since it is less than ½ the original mass for longer than 1 half-life

Check:

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

mass Pu–236 = 1.35 mg, t = 5.00 yr, t1/2 = 2.86 yr

mass remaining, mg

Given:

Find:

t1/2 k m0, t mt+

48

If there is 10.24 g of Rn–222 in the house today, how much will there be in 5.4 weeks?

units are correct, the magnitude makes sense because the length of time is 10 half-lives

Check:

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

mass Rn–222 = 10.24 g, t = 5.4 wks, t1/2 = 3.8 d

mass remaining, g

Given:

Find:

t1/2 k m0, t mt+

49

Radiometric Dating

50

• The change in radioactivity of a particular radionuclide is predictable and not affected by environmental factors

By measuring and comparing the amount of a parent radioactive isotope and its stable daughter we can determine the age of the object by using the half-life and the previous equations

• Mineral (geological) datingcomparing the amount of U-238 to Pb-206 in volcanic rocks

dates the Earth to between 4.0 and 4.5 billion yrs. old

Radiocarbon Dating• All things that are alive or were once alive contain carbon

• Three isotopes of carbon exist in nature, one, C–14, is radioactive and has a half-life = 5730 yrs

• We would normally expect a radioisotope with this relatively short half-life to have disappeared long ago, but atmospheric chemistry keeps producing C–14 at nearly the same rate it decays

Radiocarbon Dating

51

• While an organism is living, C–14/C–12 is constant because the organism replenishes its supply of carbonCO2 in air ultimate source of all C in organisms

• Once the organism dies the C–14/C–12 ratio decreases due to radioactive decay

• By measuring the C–14/C–12 ratio in a once living artifact and comparing it to the C–14/C–12 ratio in a living organism, we can tell how long ago the organism died

• The limit for this technique is 50,000 years oldabout 9 half-lives, after which radioactivity from C–14

will be below the level of background radiation

Radiocarbon Dating% C-14 (compared to living

organism)Object’s Age (in years)

100% 0

90% 870

80% 1850

60% 4220

50% 5730

40% 7580

25% 11,500

10% 19,000

5% 24,800

1% 38,10052

Example 19.5: An ancient skull gives 4.50 dis/min∙gC. If a living organism gives 15.3 dis/min∙gC, how old is the skull?

53

units are correct, the magnitude makes sense because it is less than 2 half-lives

Check:

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

ratet1/2 = 4.50 dis/min∙gC, ratet1/2 = 15.3 dis/min∙gC

time, yr

Given:

Find:

t1/2 k rate0, ratet t+

54

units are correct, the magnitude makes sense because it is between 10 and 25% of the original activity

Check:

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

t = 15,600 yr, rate0 = 20.0 counts/min∙gC

ratet, counts/min∙gC

Given:

Find:

t1/2 k rate0, t ratet+

Archeologists have dated a civilization to 15,600 yrs ago. If a living sample gives 20.0 counts per minute per gram C, what

would be the number of counts per minute per gram C for a rice grain found at the site?

Nonradioactive Nuclear Changes

Lise Meitner

55

• A few nuclei are so unstable that if their nucleus is hit just right by a neutron, the large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei — this is called fission

• Small nuclei can be accelerated to such a degree that they overcome their charge repulsion and smash together to make a larger nucleus - this is called fusion

• Both fission and fusion release enormous amounts of energy

fusion releases more energy per gram than fission

Fission Chain Reaction

56

• A chain reaction occurs when a reactant in the process is also a product of the processin the fission process it is the neutronsso you only need a small amount of neutrons to start

the chain

• Many of the neutrons produced in fission are either ejected from the uranium before they hit another U-235 or are absorbed by the surrounding U-238

• The minimum amount of fissionable isotope needed to sustain the chain reaction is called the critical mass

57

Fission

Fissionable Material

58

• Fissionable isotopes include U–235, Pu–239, and Pu–240

• Natural uranium is mostly U – 238 and less than 1% U–235 Not enough U–235 to sustain a fission chain

reaction

• To produce fissionable uranium, the natural uranium must be enriched in U–235 to ~7% for “weapons grade” ~3% for reactor grade

Nuclear Power Plants vs. Coal-Burning Power Plants

• Use about 50 kg of fuel to generate enough electricity for 1 million people

• No air pollution

• Use about 2 million kg of fuel to generate enough electricity for 1 million people

• Produce NO2 and SOx that add to acid rain

• Produce CO2 that adds to the greenhouse effect

59

• Nuclear reactors use fission to generate about 20% of U.S. electricity, utilizing the heat produced by the fission of U–235 to boil water, creating steam, and using it to turn a turbine to generate electricity

Nuclear Power Plants

60

• The fissionable material is stored in long tubes, called fuel rods, arranged in a matrix

• Between the fuel rods are control rods made of neutron-absorbing materials like boron and/or cadmiumneutrons are needed to sustain the chain reaction

• The rods are placed in a material to slow down the ejected neutrons, called a moderatorallows chain reaction to occur below critical mass

Pressurized Light Water Reactor

61

• Design used in United States (GE, Westinghouse) can be recognized by its containment dome of concrete Water is both the coolant and moderator Water in core kept under pressure to keep it from boiling

• Fuel is enriched uranium

PLWR

Core

ContainmentBuilding

Turbine

Condenser

ColdWater

Boiler

62

63

PLWR - Core

ColdWater

FuelRods

HotWaterControl

Rods

The control rods are made of neutron absorbing material. This allows the rate of neutron flow through the reactor to be controlled. Because the neutrons are required to continue the chain reaction, the control rods control the rate of nuclear fission

Concerns about Nuclear Power

64

• Core melt-downwater loss from core, heat melts core

Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi

• Waste disposalwaste highly radioactive reprocessing, underground storage?Federal High Level Radioactive Waste

Storage Facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

• Transporting waste• How do we deal with nuclear power

plants that are no longer safe to operate?Yankee Rowe in Massachusetts

Where Does the Energy fromFission Come from?

• During nuclear fission, some of the mass of the nucleus is converted into energyE = mc2

• Each mole of U–235 that fissions, produces about 1.7 x 1013 J of energya very exothermic chemical reaction produces 106 J

per mole

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Mass Defect and Binding Energy

• When a nucleus forms, some of the mass of the separate nucleons is converted into energy

• The difference in mass between the separate nucleons and the combined nucleus is called the mass defect

• The energy that is released when the nucleus forms is called the binding energy1 MeV = 1.602 x 10−13 J 1 amu of mass defect = 931.5 MeV the greater the binding energy per nucleon, the more

stable the nucleus is

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Example19.7: Calculate the mass defect and nuclear binding energy per nucleon (in MeV) for C–16, a radioactive isotope of

carbon with a mass of 16.014701 amu

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

mass C-16 = 16.01470 amu, mass p+ = 1.00783 amu,mass n0 = 1.00866 amu mass defect in amu, binding energy per nucleon in MeV

Given:

Find:

mp+, mn0, mC-16massdefect

binding energy

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Practice – Calculate the binding energy per nucleon in Fe–56 (mass 55.93494 amu)

Solve:

Conceptual Plan:

Relationships:

mass Fe-56 = 55.93494 amu, mass p+ = 1.00783 amu,mass n0 = 1.00866 amu binding energy per nucleon in MeV

Given:

Find:

mp+, mn0, mFe-56massdefect

binding energy

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Nuclear Fusion

• Fusion is the combining of light nuclei to make a heavier, more stable nuclide

• The Sun uses the fusion of hydrogen isotopes to make helium as a power source

• Requires high input of energy to initiate the processto overcome repulsion of positive nuclei

• Produces 10x more energy per gram than fission• No radioactive byproducts• Unfortunately, the only currently working application

is the H-bomb

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71

Tokamak Fusion Reactor

Making New Elements: Artificial Transmutation

72

• High energy particles can be smashed into target nuclei, resulting in the production of new nuclei

• The particles may be radiation from another radionuclide, or charged particles that are accelerated Rutherford made O–17 by bombarding N–14

with alpha rays from radium

Cf–244 is made by bombarding U–238 with C–12 in a particle accelerator

Cf

73

Artificial Transmutation

• Bombardment of one nucleus with another causing new atoms to be madecan also bombard with neutrons

• Reaction done in a linear particle accelerator or in a cyclotron

Tc-97 is made by bombarding Mo-96 with deuterium, releasing a neutron

74

Linear Accelerator

target

- + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + -

source

+

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

+ +

Cyclotron

source

target

75

Predict the other daughter nuclide and write a nuclear equation for each of the following

76

bombarding Ni–60 with a proton to make Co–57

bombarding N–14 with a neutron to make C–12

bombarding Cf–250 with B–11 producing 4 neutrons

77

Predict the other daughter nuclide and write a nuclear equation for each of the following

bombarding Ni–60 with a proton to make Co–57

bombarding N–14 with a neutron to make C–12

bombarding Cf–250 with B–11 producing 4 neutrons

Biological Effects of Radiation

• Radiation has high energy, enough to knock electrons from molecules and break bonds ionizing radiation

• When this energy is transferred to cells, it can damage biological molecules and cause the malfunction of the cell

• High levels of radiation over a short period of time kill large numbers of cells from a nuclear blast or exposed reactor core

• Causes weakened immune system and lower ability to absorb nutrients from foodmay result in death, usually from infection

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Chronic Effects• Low doses of radiation over a period of time

show an increased risk for the development of cancerradiation damages DNA that may not get repaired

properly

• Low doses over time may damage reproductive organs, which may lead to sterilization

• Damage to reproductive cells may lead to genetic defects in offspring

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Measuring Radiation Exposure• The curie (Ci) is an exposure of 3.7 x 1010 events/second

no matter the kind of radiation

• The gray (Gy) measures the amount of energy absorbed by body tissue from radiation1 Gy = 1 J/kg body tissue

• The rad also measures the amount of energy absorbed by body tissue from radiation1 rad = 0.01 Gy

• A correction factor is used to account for a number of factors that affect the result of the exposure – this biological effectiveness factor is the RBE, and the result is the dose in rems rads x RBE = rems rem = roentgen equivalent man

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Factors that Determine theBiological Effects of Radiation

1. The more energy the radiation has, the larger its effect can be

2. The better the ionizing radiation penetrates human tissue, the deeper effect it can have Gamma >> Beta > Alpha

3. The more ionizing the radiation, the larger the effect of the radiation Alpha > Beta > Gamma

4. The radioactive half-life of the radionuclide5. The biological half-life of the element6. The physical state of the radioactive material

81

82

Biological Effects of Radiation

• The amount of danger to humans of radiation is measured in the unit rems

Dose (rems) Probable Outcome

20-100decreased white blood cell count; possible increased cancer risk

100-400radiation sickness; increased cancer risk

500+ death

83

Medical Uses of Radioisotopes, Diagnosis

84

• Radiotracersuse radioisotope with a short half-lifeuse radioisotope that is low ionizing

beta or gammacertain organs absorb most or all of a particular

elementyou can measure the amount absorbed by using

tagged isotopes of the element and a Geiger countertagged = radioisotope that can then be detected

and measured

85

Bone Scans

86

Medical Uses of Radioisotopes,Diagnosis

87

• PET scanpositron emission tomographyF–18 tagged glucose

F–18 is a positron emitterbrain scan and function

Medical Uses of Radioisotopes,Treatment – Radiotherapy

88

• Cancer treatmentcancer cells more sensitive to radiation than healthy

cells – use radiation to kill cancer cells without doing significant damage

brachytherapyplace radioisotope directly at site of cancer

teletherapyuse gamma radiation from Co–60 outside to penetrate inside IMRT

radiopharmaceutical therapyuse radioisotopes that concentrate in one area of the body

Gamma Ray Treatment

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Nonmedical Uses of Radioactive Isotopes

• Smoke detectorsAm–241smoke blocks ionized air, breaks

circuit

• Insect controlsterilize males

• Food preservation• Radioactive tracers

follow progress of a “tagged” atom in a reaction

• Chemical analysisneutron activation analysis

91

Nonmedical Uses of Radioactive Isotopes

• Authenticating art objectsmany older pigments and ceramics were made

from minerals with small amounts of radioisotopes

• Crime scene investigation

• Measure thickness or condition of industrial materialscorrosion track flow through processgauges in high temp processes weld defects in pipelines road thickness

92

Nonmedical Uses of Radioactive Isotopes

• Agribusinessdevelop disease-resistant crops trace fertilizer use

• Treat computer disks to enhance data integrity

• Nonstick pan coatings initiates polymerization

• Photocopiers to help keep paper from jamming

• Sterilize cosmetics, hair products and contact lens solutions and other personal hygiene products

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94

Nuclear Medicine

• Changes in the structure of the nucleus are used in many ways in medicine

• Nuclear radiation can be used to visualize or test structures in your body to see if they are operating properlye.g. labeling atoms so their intake and output can

be monitored

• Nuclear radiation can also be used to treat diseases because the radiation is ionizing, allowing it to attack unhealthy tissue

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