RADIOISOTOPES
AND THEIR USES
AND THEIR USES
Definition:
Artificially created radioactive elements
are called radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes
are called radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes
Explanation:
Thestable and non-radioactive elements can also be changed into radioactive
elements by bombarding them with protons, neutrons or alpha particles.
Applications:
Radioisotopes are frequently used in
medicine, industry and agriculture for variety of useful purposes.
medicine, industry and agriculture for variety of useful purposes.
Tracers:
Radioactive tracers are chemical
compounds containing some quantity of radioisotope
compounds containing some quantity of radioisotope
Radioisotopes
are
used as tracers in medicine, industry and agriculture
In
Agriculture
In agriculture, radio phosphorous-32 isAgriculture
used as a tracer to
find out
how well the plants are
absorbing the phosphate
fertilizer
In
medical:
medical:
Radio iodine-131 readily
accumulates in the thyroid gland and can be used for the monitoring of thyroid functioning.
accumulates in the thyroid gland and can be used for the monitoring of thyroid functioning.
For the diagnosis of
brain tumor
phosphorous-32 is
used.
brain tumor
phosphorous-32 is
used.
The malignant part of the
body absorbs
more quantity of isotopes, and this helps in tracing the affected part of the body
body absorbs
more quantity of isotopes, and this helps in tracing the affected part of the body
Radioactive cobalt-60 is used
for curing
cancerous tumors and cells. The radiations kill the cells of the malignant tumor in the patient
for curing
cancerous tumors and cells. The radiations kill the cells of the malignant tumor in the patient
In
industry
industry
In industry tracers can be used to locate
the wear and tear of the
moving parts
of the machinery.
the wear and tear of the
moving parts
of the machinery.
They
can be used for the location
of leaks
in underground pipes. By introducing a suitable
radioactive tracer into the pipe, the leak can be conveniently
traced from
higher activity in the region of crack in the pipe.
can be used for the location
of leaks
in underground pipes. By introducing a suitable
radioactive tracer into the pipe, the leak can be conveniently
traced from
higher activity in the region of crack in the pipe.
Carbon
Dating
Dating
Definition:
Age of dead human, animal or plant can be found by
comparing amount of radioactive carbon 14 in live and dead organism
comparing amount of radioactive carbon 14 in live and dead organism
Explanation:
When a tree dies, the radio carbon-14 present
inside the
plant starts
decaying. Since the half-life of carbon-14
is 5730
years.
inside the
plant starts
decaying. Since the half-life of carbon-14
is 5730
years.
the
age of a dead tree can be calculated by comparing
the activity
of carbon-14 in the live and dead tree.
age of a dead tree can be calculated by comparing
the activity
of carbon-14 in the live and dead tree.
The activity of the
live tree remains almost constant as the carbon-14 is
being replenished
while the carbon-14 in the dead tree is no more replenished. Therefore, by measuring the
activity in the
ancient relic,
scientists can estimate its age
live tree remains almost constant as the carbon-14 is
being replenished
while the carbon-14 in the dead tree is no more replenished. Therefore, by measuring the
activity in the
ancient relic,
scientists can estimate its age
Age
of geological specimens:
of geological specimens:
Other radioisotopes are also used to estimate
the age of
geological specimens.
the age of
geological specimens.
For example, some rocks contain the
unstable potassium
isotope K-40.
This
decays to the stable
argon nuclide Ar-40 with half-life of 2.4 × 108 years.
unstable potassium
isotope K-40.
This
decays to the stable
argon nuclide Ar-40 with half-life of 2.4 × 108 years.
The
age of
rock sample
can be estimated by comparing the concentrations of K-40
and Ar-40
age of
rock sample
can be estimated by comparing the concentrations of K-40
and Ar-40
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