Module IAM SO ACTIVE BUT RADIOACTIVE! OBJECTIVES At the end of this module, you will: * trace the origin of radioactive elements or materials; * describe the types of radiations (alpha, beta, gamma) emitted | a radioactive material; differentiate radioactive decays to attain stability of nucleus; cite some dangers of exposures to radiation; and cite some medical applications of radioisotopes. 10.1 Some Radioactive Elements From the previous section of this module, you have learned about the importance of the element carbon. But there is another useful property that carbon has. One naturally-occurring carbon is the carbon-14 which is radioactive used by scientists to determine the age of different substances that contains carbon. For example, the age of Dead Sea scroll was determined by means of carbon-14 dating. Other radioactive elements are Gallium-68 which detect pancreatic cancer and Thorium-201 for heart imaging and diagnosis of myocardial infection. These radioactive elements are very important and have several beneficial uses. But on the other side, these radioactive elements have risk factors; they can also harm and put us to danger such as the Japan Nuclear explosions. 10.2 The Birth of Radioactivity Today, scientists used the term radioactivity to describe the phenomenon discovered by Henri Becquerel. Radioactivity is the property of radioactive element to gives off or release radiation in the form of particles or rays. Becquerel’s experiments provide us the idea that radioactive elements produce X-rays. And he did it. He used the uranium salt at the top of the lightproof paper which has photographic film inside it. He set both in the sun. He reasoned out that x-rays were produced by the uranium salt, it would pass through the lightproof paper and produce on the film. The lightproof paper would prevent the light from reaching the film and from there an image is formed. Becquerel realized than aninvisible “something” given off by the uranium salt has gone through the light- proof paper creating an image. This unknown or something invisible was called nuclear radiation. The uranium salt gives off radiation and said to be radioactive. Later Marie Curie with her husband Pierre Curie studied and discovered Polonium and Radium which are radioactive elements. These elements were artificially produced. 10.3 Types of Radiation The radiation gives off by the element, usually radioactive element, composed of particles or rays with different characteristics and properties. Table 10.1 Differences between Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiations Property Alpha Beta Gamma Symbol a ‘He Bue YW. Characteristics | helium nucleus consists of | high energy rays very little electron high penetrating penetrating power | travel less than power slow moving, the speed of light travels at the speed of light Mass number 4 ° ° Charge 2+ as ° Tissue Depth 0.05mm 4-5mm 50 cm more Shielding paper, clothing | heavy clothing, ead, thick lab coats, gloves conerete ‘Typical Source [Radium -226 Carbon-14 Technetium-99m The devices used to detect radiation are the Geiger counter, electroscope, cloud chamber, and bubble chamber. Radiation is measured in terms of curie (Ci), Becquerel (Bq), rad (radiation absorbed), rem (radiation equivalent in humans), and sievert (Sv). 10.4 Nuclear Stal ity In the previous module, you have learned about nucleus which is the center of the atom. It consists of the proton and neutron. A force called nuclear strong force holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. To break up the nucleus, energy called binding energy is needed. Atoms with unstable nuclei are said to be radioactive. The elements which are radioactive have other forms called isotopes. How a nucleus becomes stable? A nucleus can be stable when it undergoes change or nuclear reaction.Radioactive Decay is a process when a nucleus spontaneously breaks down by emitting radiation. These radioactive decays are alpha, beta, and gamma decays. ‘Alpha Decay happens when a nucleus releases an alpha particle. 2, Am >2”,.Np +,He Beta Decay happens when a nucleus releases a beta particle 0, Co —--> @,,Ni +e ; Gamma Decay happens when a nucleus releases a gamma particle. gm, Te > Tet y The identity of the atom changes when a nucleus releases an alpha or beta particle. This results to changes known as transmutation. The nuclei decay does not happen at one time but instead over period of time in a continuous process. The decay of radioactive element over a long period of time is called half-life. Example of this is the carbon-14, It’s half-life is 5730 years. ‘As you can see above the examples of radioactive decays, radioactive atom changes into another. A stable or nonradioactive atom is formed when there is a spontaneous breakdown. The series of steps by which a radioactive nucleus decays into a stable nucleus is known as decay series. Some of the elements in the periodic table are said to be produced from artificial transmutation. Some of these elements are neptunium and plutonium belonged to tranguranium elements. These elements were synthesized in a particle accelerator commonly found in Enrico Fermi’s Lab in Illinois. 10.5 Nuclear Fission and Fusion Nuclear fission is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two simpler or smaller nuclei of approximately the same mass. tacget SS ke fasion Figure 10.1 Nuclear Fission Nuclear fusion is the combination or union of two atomic nuclei of smaller masses to form one or single nucleus with larger mass. It is sometimes called thermonuclear reaction.FUSION tee of one US elim n't year ee ae LUNE «energy Figure 10.2 Nuclear Fusion 98 Conversion = (02 toeneray 676units per kg fel 10.6 Radioactivity at Work Radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes are very beneficial in industry and especially in medicine. Radioisotopes serve as scanner and scanner. It can easily scans diseases of the organ, tumor, or blood clot and even cancer. One of its examples is the determination of thyroid function using a radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU). Table 10.2 Some Medical Applications of Radioisotopes Isotope Half-life Medical Application Ce-141 32.5 days Gastrointestinal tract diagnosis; measuring myocardial blood flow Co-60 5.3 years External radiation therapy; sterilize surgical instruments and medicines Ga-67 78 hour Abdominal imaging; tumor detection P-32 4.3 days Treatment of leukemia, pancreatic cancer, polycythemia vera (excess red blood cells, 1-125 60 days Treatment of brain cancer; osteoporosis detection 1-123 13.1 hour Imaging brain, thyroid, kidney, and heart; measuring cerebral blood flow; and detection of neurological disease Sr-89 50 days Alleviation of bone cancer pain; treatment of prostate cancerTable 10.3 Radiation Doses used for Diagnostic Procedures Organ Dose (rem) Liver 03 Thyroid 50.0 Lung 2.0 Table 10.4 Radiation Doses used for Therapeutic Procedures Condition Dose (rem) Lymphoma 4500 Skin cancer 5000-6000 Lung cancer 6000 Brain tumor 6000-7000 10.7 Dangers of Radiation Though radioactivity has great beneficial uses, it can also pose danger when not handled with care. Actually, Pierre Curie died because of two much exposure to the radiation. Radiation can interfere to the normal operation of the cell. It can damage the DNA and creates alteration to the carrying of traits from one generation to another. Large doses of radiation can cause reddening of skin, drop of white cells count, nausea, fatigue, loss of hair and even death. Marie Curie died because of too much exposure to radiation. Today, people who work with radioactive materials are wearing, radiation- sensitive badges that serve as warning of unsafe levels of radiation. Scientists are still searching for ways on how to control the effects of radiation to human lives. Read Me! Set What are the different Imaging Methods? Computed Tomography (CT) is used to detect changes within the body. A computer monitors degree of absorption of 30000 x-ray beams directed at the brain at successive layers. This technique is successful in the identification of brain hemorrhages, brain tumors and atrophy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) used in detection of multiple sclerosis, abnormalities of the spine and brain, tumors and birth malformations. In some cases, MRI is replacing the use of X-rays and other scanning techniques, including the CT scanner. But in here, no radiation is used.Name: Year/Sec: A. Write A for alpha particle, B for beta particle and C for gamma particle on the space before the numbe: It has high penetrating power. 2. It moves slowly. 3. It can be stopped by paper. 4. Ithas no charge. 5. Can be represented by y. 6. It consists of electron. 7. It has very low penetrating power. 8. Can be stopped by brick or thick concrete. 9. Ithas a charge of 2+ 10. It has tissue depth of 50. cm or more. fe the correct answer before the number. It is a process when a nucleus spontaneously breaks down by emitting radiation. It is the combination or union of two atomic nuclei of smaller masses to form one or single nucleus with larger mass. 3. It is being formed when there is a spontaneous breakdown of atom. It happens when a nucleus releases an alpha particle. 5. The decay of radioactive element over a long period of time. Itis the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two simpler or smaller nuclei of approximately the same mass. 7. It is the series of steps by which a radioactive nucleus decays into a stable nucleus. 8. It happens when a nucleus releases a gamma particle. 9, It happens when a nucleus releases a beta particle. 10. It is the property of radioactive element to gives off or release radiation in the form of particles or rays. |Enumerate the following. 1. - Units used to measure the amount of radiation. 2. Devices or instruments used to measure the amount of radiation. 3. Scientists known for their contributions in the field of radioactivity Give the advantages and disadvantages of radioactivity.