1. Radiation True or False?
You are being bombarded with radiation right now.
You are giving off radiation right now
Your breakfast was irradiated with deadly radiation
You can see radioactivity
You can feel radioactivity
Radioactive substances are only harmful if you touch them
If you are irradiated then you become radioactive
Radioactivity is not very useful
We completely understand what causes radioactivity
Do you know the three types of radioactivity. Write them down..
True
True
True ??
False
False
False
False
False
False ?

2. Let’s have a look at some radioactive samples
Think about how we may be able to use them!

3. The penetration power of the three types of radiation.  
Skin or paper
stops ALPHA
Thin aluminium
stops BETA
Thick lead
reduces GAMMA
Thin mica

4. So what exactly does cause this radiation? .
First we need to look at the structure of the atom

5. Draw diagrams to represent:

6. How did you go? 6 protons 6 neutrons 6 electrons 6 protons 7 neutrons

7. What do we call these? 6 protons 6 neutrons 6 electrons 6 protons

8. Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

9. PM S5 K1: Distinguish between stable and radioactive isotopes and describe the conditions under which the nucleus is unstable.

10. Isotopes Radioisotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
Because they have the same number of electrons there is NO difference to their chemical behaviour.
Radioisotopes
Atoms with unstable nuclei which are radioactive.
They emit radiation to become stable.

11. Stable and unstable Isotopes
There are over 2000 different isotopes that have been discovered so far.
Only 279 are stable – they do not emit radiation.
The rest are unstable and are called radioisotopes
The nuclei rearrange to become more stable.
As they do so they emit radiation.
But which ones are unstable?
Lets have a look at them

12. Stable and unstable Isotopes
This line is where the no. protons = no. neutrons

13. Why are some nuclei unstable
All atoms with atomic no > 83 are unstable
Other nuclei are unstable because of the proton to neutron ratio.
For light elements, stable nuclei have a proton:neutron ration close to 1:1. 24 12
For heavy elements the stable nuclei have a proton:neutron ratio closer to 1:1.5
206 82
Mg is stable 12p, 12n
Pb is unstable 92 p, 114 n

14. There are four main types of radiation that can be given out by a nucleus of an atom:

15. Alpha radiation -  He Description:
2 neutrons, 2 protons (like a helium nuclei)
Symbol 4 2
4 means mass = 4
2 means 2 protons He

16. Beta radiation - -  e high energy electron Description:
Electric Charge:
Symbol 0 or 0
-1 -1
The 0 means mass = 0
How can the nucleus emit an electron?
Because a neutron turns into an electron and a proton!
The -1 means that the electron is the opposite of a proton.  e
high energy electron

17. Positron emission - + e positive electron Description:
Positively charged electron
Electric Charge:
Symbol 0 +1
The 0 means mass = 0
How can this happen?
Because a proton an electron and a neutron.
The +1 means that the positron was made from a proton. e
positive electron

18. Gamma radiation -  Electromagnetic radiation Description:
High energy electromagnetic radiation
Electric Charge:
Relative Atomic Mass:
Electromagnetic radiation

19. Can you tell why the different types of emitters are located together?
This line is where
p = n

20. Radioactive half-life
What do we mean by half-life?

21. Radioactive half-life
The average time taken for half of the substance to decay is called the radioactive half-life.

22. Once an atom in a sample decays that atom is no longer radioactive.
Radioactive half-life
Once an atom in a sample decays that atom is no longer radioactive.

23. Uses of radiation

24. Thickness Control Mill
If not enough radioactivity is detected then the rollers compress to make the material thinner.
This method is used in the manufacture of lots of sheet materials: plastics, paper, sheet steel.
A radioactive source is on one side of the material and a detector on the other.
If too much radioactivity is getting through, then the material is too thin and the rollers open up a bit to make the material thicker.
Beta Source
detector
Hydraulic
ram
Electronic instructions to adjust rollers.

25. Leak detection in pipes
The radioactive isotope is injected into the pipe. Then the outside of the pipe is checked with a Geiger-Muller detector, to find areas of high radioactivity. These are the points where the pipe is leaking. This is useful for underground pipes that are hard to get near.
GM tube
The isotope must have a short half life so the material does not become a long term problem.
The radioactive isotope must be a gamma emitter so that it can be detected through the metal and the earth where the pipe leaks. Alpha and beta rays would be blocked by the metal and the earth.

26. PM S5 K5. Identify one use of a named radioisotope:
- in industry
- in medicine
PM S5 K6. Describe the way in which the above named industrial and medical radioisotopes are used and explain their use in terms of their properties.

27. Cobalt-60 Sterilisation
Gamma rays are used to kill bacteria, mould and insects in food. Also used to kill bacteria on hospital equipment.
This is useful particularly on packaged food or on plastic items which would be damaged by heat sterilisation.
It can affect the taste and the vitamin content, but it lengthens the shelf life.
Gamma Source
unsterilised
sterilised

28. Sterilisation Gamma Source unsterilised sterilised
Cobalt-60 is used as it is a gamma emitter – very penetrating.
It has a half life of 5.3 years so the machines can run cheaply without regular maintenance.
You don’t need external power to produce the gamma rays as you do with x-rays
Cobalt-60 is held in a chemically inert form in a sealed container.
When the cobalt-60 is exhausted it can easily be replaced.
Gamma Source
unsterilised
sterilised

29. Cobalt-60 production.
Iron-58 placed in a nuclear reactor and bombarded with neutrons. One neutron is absorbed and iron-59 is formed
Iron-59 is formed which decays into cobalt-59 plus a beta particle
Cobalt-59 is then placed in a nuclear reactor and bombarded with neutrons. One neutron is absorbed and cobalt-60 is formed.
Can you write equations for these nuclear processes?

30. Use of Technetium 99m in medicine

31. Tc-99m is bound to a carrier molecule

32. Technitium is useful because it is a transition metal and therefore chemically binds easily with atoms (such as N) in biological molecules.
It also has a half life of 6 hours so it does not expose the patient to radiation for any significant length of time.

33. In all other respects the carrier molecule is identical to normal biological equivalent
Tc-99m

34. The biological molecule is introduced into the body

35. The Tc-99m is carried to the specific organ (depends on the molecule)

36. Special gamma cameras then take pictures of the gamma rays emitted by the technetium-99m

37. The benefits: surgeons and doctors can make an accurate diagnosis without performing surgery
The problems: Tissue damage – leading to sickness and ultimately death for high exposure Can cause cancer – leukemia/lung – up to 20 years after treatment Genetic damage causes deformities in offspring.

38. Production of technetium-99m Molybdenum-98 absorbs a neutron to make molybdenum-99. Molybdenum-99 decays to make technetium99-m Mo-99 is delivered to hospitals in a “generator” Over time this produces Tc-99m which the hospitals extract when they need it. Please make a note to find more out about this when we go to ANSTO.

39. PM S5 P2 – Use available evidence to analyse benefits and problems with the use of radioactive isotopes in industries and medicine
Read p98 and from what you have learnt today make a list of benefits.
Read p 101 and from what you have learnt today make a list of problems.

40. PM S5 P2 – Use available evidence to analyse benefits and problems with the use of radioactive isotopes in identified industries and machines.
Benefits:
Problems:

41. Sensitive monitoring of industrial processes
PM S5 P2 – Use available evidence to analyse benefits and problems with the use of radioactive isotopes in identified industries and machines.
Benefits:
Non-invasive diagnostic procedures
Treatment of cancers
Sensitive monitoring of industrial processes
Sterilisation
Non-invasive examination of pipes / aircraft etc.
Problems:
Tissue damage for people exposed
Risk of cancer if exposed
Genetic damages to people exposed
Hard to dispose of some isotopes (long half-life)