Uses of radioisotopes and carbon dating
Uses of radioisotopes
Radioisotopes of elements have a wide variety of uses.
| Cobalt-60 | Used in medicine to treat cancer. Gamma rays can be focused on tumors. |
| Iodine-131 | Used to treat thyroid gland (in the neck). If the gland is enlarged, iodine-131 can be absorbed and will partially destroy it. |
| Carbon-14 | Used to date once-living materials. |
| Cobalt-60 |
|---|
| Used in medicine to treat cancer. Gamma rays can be focused on tumors. |
| Iodine-131 |
|---|
| Used to treat thyroid gland (in the neck). If the gland is enlarged, iodine-131 can be absorbed and will partially destroy it. |
| Carbon-14 |
|---|
| Used to date once-living materials. |
Carbon dating
Every living organism contains the radioisotope carbon-14. Carbon-14 is formed when neutrons from cosmic radiation collide with nitrogen atoms in our atmosphere forming protons and carbon-14 atoms.
\(_0^1n + _{\,\,7}^{14}N \to _{\,\,6}^{14}C + _1^1H\)
Carbon dioxide is responsible for carbon-14 entering the food chain.
Carbon-14 decays by beta-emission and has a half-life of 5730 years. This means that the beta-decay emissions can be monitored and the data used to calculate how long it has been since the material was alive.
Carbon 14 decay of a buried log. Its activity has dropped to 12.5% after 17,190 years.
Radioisotopes are used to detect and treat cancer and have various uses in industry
