Information on the radioisotope: Cobalt 60 used in medicine and in industry
Title: Information on the radioisotope: Cobalt 60 used in medicine and in industry
Category: /Science & Technology/Chemistry
Details: Words: 660 | Pages: 2 (approximately 235 words/page)
Information on the radioisotope: Cobalt 60 used in medicine and in industry
Category: /Science & Technology/Chemistry
Details: Words: 660 | Pages: 2 (approximately 235 words/page)
a) Identify a radioisotope that is used in medicine or industry and briefly outline its use
Cobalt-60 is used in industrial radiography to inspect metal parts and welds for defects, in gamma sterilisation of equipment and in gauging. In the area of medicine, Cobalt-60 is used in cancer radiotherapy.
b) Describe how the radioisotope is made.
Radioactive cobalt-60 is produced in a process called activation, when materials in reactors, such as steel, are exposed to
showed first 75 words of 660 total
You are viewing only a small portion of the paper.
Please login or register to access the full copy.
Please login or register to access the full copy.
showed last 75 words of 660 total
cost due to the extensive time spent in the reactor. In the irradiation of food the treatment of the food is relatively slow. The use of radioactive cobalt-60 in food destroys thiamine and could also cause mutations in fruits and vegetables. Also occasionally medical and industrial sources have been lost or stolen posing a significant health risk to those who handle them. Exposures to gamma radiation from cobalt-60 result in an increased risk of cancer.