CHEM120 Week 6 Discussion: Radiation – Radioactive Isotope: Cobalt-60 (Option 1)

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CHEM120 Week 6 Discussion: Radiation – Radioactive Isotope: Cobalt-60 (Option 1) Option 1 Cobalt-60 a. What type(s) of radioactive decay does your isotope undergo? Radioactive decay occurs... when an unstable nucleus changes into a stable nucleus by emitting radiation. The cobalt-60 isotope undergoes a beta decay and produces gamma rays as it decays. The half-life for cobalt-60 is 5.27 years. This is how long the decaying process takes to get to Nickel-59, a more stable isotope ("Cancer Therapy," 2020). b. How is your isotope used? Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope used as a source of gamma radiation for cancer therapy and tumor therapy. Cobalt-60 kills cancer cells by regulating the direction and the dose of radiation being emitted. This regulation of the radiation also stops cancer from developing. It is often used for complex brain tumors ("Radiation Therapy Related to Cobalt-60", 2015). Cobalt-60 is also used to sterilize all types of medical and surgical devices such as gloves, gowns, scalpels, implants, and more. The gamma irradiation of cobalt-60 can penetrate the medical objects through their packaging without having to remove them ("Isotopes," 2020). Cancer Therapy. (2020). Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://teachnuclear.ca/all- things-nuclear/other-nuclear-applications/medical-applications/cancer-therapy/ Isotopes. (2020). Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://www.brucepower.com/isotopes/ Radiation Therapy Related to Cobalt-60. (2015, April 29). Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://sciencemagazinekszj.wordpress.com/radiation-therapy-related-to-cobalt-60/ [Show More]

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