Identify a Named Radioisotope in M

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ed Identify a named radioisotope in medicine Cobalt – 60 Describe the way in which the above names radioisotope is used and explain its uses in terms of its properties. Cobalt – 60 is a synthetic radioactive isotope of Cobalt which is produced artificially by bombarding pure Cobalt with neutrons (also known as neutron activation), upon becoming radioactive cobalt begins to undergo Beta decay to the stable isotope Ni - 60, consisting of half life’s of approximately 5.27 years. 59Co + 1n 60Co 60Ni + e- Cobalt 60 releases two gamma ray emission lines, which are low energy and can be easily sheilded from this allows it to be used as a medical and industrial radiation source. Medical use consists primarily of cancer radiotherapy. Industrial uses include testing of welds and castings, and a large variety of measurement and test instruments including levelling devices and thickness gauges. It is also used to sterilize instruments, and to irradiate food to kill microbes and prevent spoilage. But although having all these uses, it’s mainly used in industrial radiography helping to detect these welds, cracks and or little holes in pressurized piping. The radiation is used to detect any faults in a surface through various ways, a popular scheme is known as the panoramic structure, this is when the radioactive isotope (cobalt – 60) is placed in the centre of a room, and then depending on the radiographer, film cassette will be placed in a specified location to check for leaks and cracks. As the cobalt – 60 emits gamma rays that are easily stopped, the cassette will only reveal a change in colour where gamma rays strike sensitive silver halide ions but the cobalt will not pass through the walls hence revealing cracks or small holes. Cobalt-60 has several advantages and disadvantages making it suitable for its use, these are as follows: 1. Up to 95% percent of its

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