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Radioactive Isotopes

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Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive Isotopes

An isotope is one of two or more atoms with the same number of protons, and position in the periodic table, but different number of neutrons and physical properties. Isotopes have an unstable nucleus that decay suddenly by a release of nuclear electrons and radiation. This essay will be discussing one of the applications and uses of the radioactive isotopes, and it will also state one problem that radioactive isotopes can address.

The radiation characteristically meet four kinds: alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation and x radiation. Alpha radiation is weighty, that includes a very-short variety element and is in fact a homeless helium nucleus. Some examples of alpha radiation are radium, radon, uranium, and thorium. Beta radiation is weightless, has short-range particles and is in fact a cast out electron; some examples of beta radiation are strontium -90, carbon-14, tritium, and sulphur-35. Gamma and x radiation are extremely incisive electromagnetic rays.

One of the problems I’ll be discussing and is actually solved by radioactive isotopes is a cancer cell. Radiation therapy draws on high-energy radiation to damage on cancer cells by damaging their DNA, unfortunately it can also damage normal cells, so as a result the treatment must be circumspectly designed to reduce side effects.

X rays offers huge advantages, counting the previous discovery of cancer and the opportunity of premature action, their use is linked with minute improves in cancer danger. In attendance the agreement vision is the profit of showing women over 50 years old, ignorantly prevail over the associated risks due to radiation experience.

Typical effective doses from diagnostic medical exposures in the 1990s

Diagnostic procedure | Typical effective does in millisieverts | Equivalent number of chest x-rays | Approximate equivalent period of natural background radiation (1) | X ray examination: - | Limbs and



Bibliography: - * Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/nuclear/uses.html> * Web. 26 Feb. 2012. < http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiationtypes.html>. * Web. 26 Feb. 2012. < http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_importance_of_chemistry_in_agriculture >. * Http://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/radioactive+isotope. Web. 26 Feb. 2012 * Web. 26 Feb. 2012. < http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm> * Web. 26 Feb. 2012. < http://www.lef.org/protocols/cancer/radiation_therapy_01.htm>.

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