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. DP 5.1: Distinguish between stable and radioactive isotopes and describe the conditions under which the nucleus is unstable.

3. Alpha radiation -  or 42He
Description:
2 neutrons, 2 protons (helium nuclei)
Electric Charge: +2
Relative Atomic Mass: 4
Penetration power:
Stopped by paper or a few cm of air
Ionisation effect:
Strongly ionising
Effects of Magnetic/Electric Field:
Deflected towards the negative
Helium nuclei ?

4. Beta radiation -  or 0-1e high energy electron Description:
Electric Charge: -1
Relative Atomic Mass:
1/1860
Penetration power:
Stopped by few mm of aluminium
Ionisation effect:
Weakly ionising
Effects of Magnetic/Electric Field:
Strongly deflected towards the positive
high energy electron

5. positron radiation - or 01e
Description:
High energy electron
Electric Charge: +1
Relative Atomic Mass:
1/1860
Penetration power:
Stopped by few mm of aluminium
Ionisation effect:
Weakly ionising
Effects of Magnetic/Electric Field:
Strongly deflected towards the negative
high energy positron

6. Gamma radiation -  Electromagnetic radiation Description:
High energy electromagnetic radiation
Electric Charge:
Relative Atomic Mass:
Penetration power:
Reduced by several cms of lead or several metres of concrete
Ionisation effect:
Very weakly ionising
Effects of Magnetic/Electric Field:
NO deflection
Electromagnetic radiation

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

8. Which type of radiation is…..
The most penetrating?
The least penetrating?
Least dangerous outside the body?
Most dangerous inside the body?
High energy electrons?
Has a negative charge?
Is weakly ionising?
Has zero charge and zero mass?
Only reduced in intensity by lead and concrete?
Gamma
Alpha
Alpha
Alpha
Beta
Beta
Beta
Gamma
Gamma

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

10. Draw diagrams to represent:

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

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

13. Isotopes
Atoms of the same element containing the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.
Because they have the same number of electrons there is NO difference to their chemical behaviour.

14. Stable and unstable Isotopes
Over 2000 different isotopes have been discovered so far.
If the nucleus of the isotope spontaneously emits radiation it is said to be unstable or radioactive.
Unstable isotopes are called radioisotopes (or radioactive isotopes).
Radioactive isotopes are unstable. They emit radiation as they spontaneously release energy. This is called radioactive decay. . .

15. Stable and unstable Isotopes
For light elements, stable nuclei have a proton:neutron ratio close to 1:1.
For heavy elements the stable nuclei have a proton:neutron ratio close to 1:1.5
Most nuclei out of these ranges are unstable
p = n

16. Stable and unstable Isotopes
All nuclei with p >83 are unstable.

17. alpha emission 23892U 42He + 23490Th 22086Rn 23994Pu Example:
When a nucleus emits an alpha particle it loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons, the same as a helium nucleus.
Gamma rays are often emitted along with alpha decay. Radon, plutonium, polonium all have alpha emitting isotopes.
Example:
23892U He Th
Now try these…
22086Rn
23994Pu
42He Po
42He U

18. beta emission Èxample: 6027Co 0-1e + 6028Ni Now you try: 146C 31H
During beta decay, the nucleus emits an electron. But how?
A neutron decomposes into a proton and an electron, as follows… n p + 0-1e
Èxample: Co e Ni
Now you try:
146C
31H
Beta decay is also accompanied by gamma ray emission. Gamma rays are not emitted on their own but accompany alpha or beta decay
0-1e N
0-1e He

19. positron emission Èxample: 3819K 01e + 3818Ar Now you try: 127N 4823V
During positron, the nucleus emits a positron. But how?
A proton decomposes into a neutron and an electron, as follows… P on + 01e
Èxample: K e Ar
Now you try:
127N
4823V
01e C
01e Ti

20. During alpha decay, which of the following is true?
Relative atomic mass increases by 2
Relative atomic mass decreases by 2
Relative atomic mass increases by 4
Relative atomic mass decreases by 4 

21. During beta (-) decay, which of the following is true?
Atomic number increases by 1
Atomic number decreases by 1
Atomic number increases by 2
Atomic number decreases by 2 

22. Now you try…
Pg93, Q1, 2,

23. Half-life
The time taken for half of the number of atoms in a sample of radioisotope to decay is called its half-life. Eg.
The half-life of fluorine-20 is 11 seconds.
The half-life of carbon-14 is 5.7x103 years.
The half-life of uranium-238 is 4.5x109 years.

24. What is the half life of Carbon-15?
Radioactive half-life
What is the half life of Carbon-15?
Number of carbon-15 atoms present (x 108)

25. Radioactive half-life
The average time taken for half of the substance to decay is called the radioactive half-life.
% Atom left undecayed
100 80 60 40 20

26. DP 5.5
Identify one use of a named radioisotope:
in industry
in medicine
DP 5.6
Describe the way in which the above named industrial and medical isotopes are used and explain their use in terms of their properties.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Cobalt-60 Sterilisation
Gamma rays are used to kill bacteria, mould and insects in ood. 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

30. 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

31. Named radioisotopes - industry
Industry - cobalt-60
Cobalt-60 is used to sterilise food because when it decays by beta decay it also releases gamma radiation.
Gamma rays are used to kill bacteria, mould and insects in food. They are also used to kill bacteria on hospital equipment, dressings and bandages.
This is useful particularly on packaged food or on plastic items which would be damaged by heat sterilisation.
There are arguments for using cobalt-60 to sterilise food are that it prolongs freshness and so reduces wastage. Arguments against say that it does not effectively kill all bacteria and destroys vitamin content. It may also cause harmful products in the food.
Cobalt-60 is used because It has a half life of 5.3 years so the machines can run cheaply without regular maintenance. It produces low energy gamma rays which do not make the food radioactive.
You don’t need external power to produce the gamma rays as you do with x-rays

32. Where does it come from? 27 27
Co-60 is artificially generated. Co-59 is bombarded with a neutron in a nuclear reactor 59Co + 1n → 60Co Co-60 then decays by negative beta 60Co → 59Ni + 0B the Ni-59 them emits two gamma 59Ni → 59Ni + γ + γ The gamma rays are used to kill bacteria / microbes 42 43 -1 43 43

33. Use of Technetium 99m in medicine

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

35. Technitium-99m is useful because it is a transition metal and chemically binds easily with non-bonding electron pairs on atoms (such as N) in a range of biological molecules which are specific to different organs. It can also be bound to immune system proteins which bind to cancer cells.
It also has a half life of 6 hours so it does not expose the patient to radiation for any significant length of time.

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

37. The biological molecule is introduced into the body

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

39. Special gamma cameras then take pictures of the gamma rays emitted by the technetium

40. Higher signals will be recorded where there is a build up of the radioisotope either in a blood clot, tumour, or constrictions in blood vessels.

41. 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.

42. Where does it come from? 42 42
Tc-99m is artificially generated but has a ½ life of only 6 hours which means it is impractical to deliver it to a hospital. Mo-98 is bombarded with a neutron in a nuclear reactor 98Mo + 1n → 99Mo Mo-99 is delivered to hospitals where it decays ½ = 66 hrs 99Mo → 99mTc + 0B the Tc-99m is chemically extracted and used 99mTc → 99Tc + γ The gamma ray is v. low energy and therefore very safe – weakly ionising 42 43 -1 43 43

43. Sensitive monitoring of inductrial processes
PM S5 P6 – Use available evidence to analyse benefits and problems with the use of radioactive isotopes in identified industries and machines.
Benefits:
Non-invasive diagnostic procedures
Treatement of cancers
Sensitive monitoring of inductrial 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)

44. More benefits and problems
In either medicine or industry the problems associated with radiation is its effect on living cells.
Radiation changes the structure of enzymes so they cannot acts as catalysts.
The structure of membranes can be changed preventing transport in and out of the cell.
The structure of DNA molecules can be altered so that it cannot function correctly.
Sex cells can be altered so that changes can result in defects in offspring.
Other problems are that some isotopes are made in nuclear reactors so there is the problem of waste products to be dealt with. Also security issues concerned with transport and storage of nuclear waste.

45. Radiotherapy
A carefully controlled beam of gamma rays can be used to kill cancer cells. It must be directed carefully to minimise the damage to normal cells.
However, some damage is unavoidable and this can make the patient ill.
It is therefore a balancing act - getting the dose high enough to kill the cancerous cells, but as low as possible to minimise the harm to the patient.

46. Describe how transuranic elements are produced
Transuranic elements have an atomic number greater than 92 [uranium].
These elements are synthesised in nuclear reactors and particle accelerators (cyclotrons).
Most are radioactive and only exist for short periods.
In a nuclear reactor the nucleus to be used is bombarded with neutrons produced by uranium decay. Neptunium and americium are produced this way.
In a cyclotron, target nuclei are bombarded with positive particles such as protons or atoms of helium or carbon, at great speed, until they fuse together on collision.
Very high speeds are necessary because the positive particles have to fuse with a positive nucleus and the two experience repulsion when near each other. High speeds help to overcome this barrier.

47. Describe how transuranic elements are produced
Californium is produced in an accelerator in the following way:
23892U C Cf + 4(10n)
In both cases the new nucleus formed will be unstable and starts to emit particles and/or radiation in order to become stable.

48. Describe how transuranic elements are produced
Neptunium is produced in a reactor: U + 10n U Np e
(Uranium-238 is not fissile [will not split on bombardment with neutrons] so forms uranium-239 when hit with a neutron). This rapidly decays to neptunium by beta decay.
Neptunium rapidly decays to plutonium by beta decay Np Pu e
(Plutonium can be used to make americium. It is used in energy generation and nuclear weapons. It was also used as a fuel in the long distance craft Voyager and Voyager II, which went on missions to Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. It has a half-life of almost 25,000 years).

49. Describe how transuranic elements are produced
Americium is produced in a reactor: 23994Pu + 2(10n) Am e
Americium is used in most domestic fire alarms
Americium has a half-life of 432 years.
It decays by alpha decay to neptunium and also releases low energy gamma rays, so very, very small amounts are used in fire alarms (0.2microgram)
Both neptunium and americium are artificial elements made in reactors

50. Describe how commercial radioisotopes are produced
There are about 20 widespread commercial radioisotopes in use, produced by cyclotrons and nuclear reactors.
An accelerator is a machine that allows positive particles [protons, small nuclei] to be accelerated to high speed, fired at nuclei of atoms with controlled energies in order to study nuclear reaction or make radioisotopes. Accelerators produce neutron-deficient isotopes like fluorine-18.
147N He F
Fluorine-18 is used in the treatment of cancers.
Cyclotrons are found in major hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to produce useful radioisotopes with short half-lives
Iodine-123 is also made in a cyclotron.

51. Describe how commercial radioisotopes are produced
A nuclear reactor is a device that allows a uranium chain reaction to occur safely, releasing neutrons at a slow and controlled rate. A target is bombarded with neutrons to produce a radioactive species with extra neutrons. Nuclear reactors produce neutron-rich isotopes: iodine-131, strontium-90, cobalt-60.
Example: Co + 10n Co
Example: Technetium-99m is formed from molybdenum-99, which is a fission product of uranium Mo Tc e
Tc-99m is an important medical diagnostic isotope

52. Commercial radioisotopes – nuclear reactors
technetium-99m: is formed by the decay of molybdenum-99, which is a fission product of uranium-235 (when uranium-235 atoms are split when bombarded by neutrons). Molybdenum has a half life of 66 hours so it can be made at Lucas Heights reactor and transported to hospitals all over Australia. Technetium-99m has a half life of 6hrs so is suitable to use in medical diagnosis as it decays rapidly causing minimal damage to the patient. It can be attached to biological molecules [eg. incorporated into blood serum] and used to detect blood clots, tumours, damaged heart tissue.

53. Commercial radioisotopes – n/reactor
Americium-241: recovered from nuclear waste, used in smoke alarms
Plutonium-238: fuel for space probes
Strontium-90: produces beta particles. Used in industry to monitor paper/card thickness. A long half-life means that it doesn’t need replacing too often
Cobalt-60: produced when cobalt-59 is bombarded with a neutron. cobalt-60 decays and emits beta particles and gamma rays. Has medicinal and industrial uses.