RADIOACTIVITY

By : Nuriman Syakirah Binti Ahmad Kilani409/13138

Understanding the uses of isotopes :- Fundamentals of Radioisotopes

- Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

- Q&A

CONTENT

• •Isotopes that are not stable and go through radioactive decay are known as radioisotopes

• •Radioisotopes exist naturally. Examples of such radioisotopes are uranium -238 and radium-226

• •Artificial radioisotopes are manufactured mainly by irradiating substance with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. They can also be manufactured by bombarding a stable nucleus with hgh-energy particles such as protons or neutrons.

• •For example, radioisotope sodium-24 is produced when magnesium nucleus is bombarded by a neutron.

Fundamentals of Radioisotopes

• Medicals

• Agriculture

• Archeology

• Industries

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Medicals1. RadiotherapyGamma rays of cobalt-60 can be used to destroy cancer

cells in patients. This treatment is known as radiotherapy.Tracer to Detect Blood Clots or Tumour

1. A small amount of sodium-24 is injected into the

patient's body.

2. Radioactive imaging is then used to detect accumulation

of sodium-24 and therefore detect tumours and blood

clots before they become dangerous.

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Medicals2. Sterilising Medical Instriment

1. Gamma ray emitted from radioactive cobalt-60

can kill germs such as bacteria and fungus.

2. Medical instruments such as surgical equipment,

syringes and bandages can be sterilised by using

gamma rays.

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Medicals3. Heart Peacemaker

1. A heart pacemaker is a medical device which uses

electrical pulses to contract the heart muscles, and

hence to regulate the beating of the heart.

2. Plutonium-238 in a nuclear battery is used to produce

small electric shocks in the heart pacemaker.

3. People with irregular heartbeats need to have a heart

pacemaker implanted inside their chest.

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Agriculture1. Pest Control

1. Male insect is sterilised by exposing to radioactive

radiation and then released back to the ecosystem.

2. This can ensure that their reproducing effort do not

generate new generation and hence reduces the

population of the insect.

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Agriculture2.. Tracer

1. The metabolism of phosphorus by plants can be studied using phosphate

fertilisers that contain phosphorus-32.

2. A small amount of phosphorus-32 is used in fertilisers.

3. The radiation produced by phosphorus-32decay is detected by a Geiger-Muller

counter.

4. This method can trace the passage of phosphate ions in plants.

5. Carbon-14 is used to study the passage of carbon during photosynthesis in

plants.

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

Agriculture3. Develop New Species of Plant

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

1. Radioactive radiation is targeted to the

seeds of plants and hence causes

mutation to the genes.

2. By chance, this may develop some

superior agricultural products.

Agriculture4. Food Preservation

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

1. The gamma rays from cobalt-60 are used to

kill bacteria in food to make fresh vegetables

and fruits last longer without any change in

quality, flavour and texture of food.

2. Gamma rays are used to inhibit budding in

potatoes.

Archeology1. Estimation of Artifacts Age

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

1. In archaeology radioisotope carbon-14 is

used to study and estimate the age of

ancient artifacts. This method is named as

the radiocarbon dating.

2. Radiocarbon dating can be used to

estimate the age of organic materials,

such as wood and leather, up to about

58,000 to 62,000 years.

Industry1. Monitoring Content Of Food

2. Monitoring Thickness of Steel/Paper Sheet

3. Detecting Underground Leakage

4. Measuring the Wearing Rate Of Engine

p/s : Do click on the names to get more info

Application of Radioisotopes In Various Field

1. Cobalt-60 destroys cancer cells because it

A has a long half-lifeB has no side effectC radiates gamma raysD decays spont

2. What is the radioisotope that can be used to determine the age of a fossil?

A Radon-222B Uranium-238C Carbon-14D Iodine-131

Questions and Answers

3. Which of the following statements is a characteristic of gamma radiation?

A It has a positive chargeB It is an electromagnetic waveC It has a higher ionizing power than alpha radiationD It has a lower penetrating power than beta radiation

4. Which statement is true about the use of radioactive substance?

A To determine the sex of a foetusB To determine the contents in the baggage of the air plane passengersC To detect leakage in underground pipesD To identify counterfeit bank-notes

Questions and Answers

5. In the fission reaction for an atom of uranium-235, the energy produced is 2.9 x 10 -11 J.

What is the total loss of mass in the reaction? A 3.22 x 10-28 kgB 9.67 x 10-20 kgC 2.61 x 106 kgD 1.03 x 1019 kg

Answers.1. C2. C3. B4. C5. A

Questions and Answers