Cancer cells are more vulnerable to x and gamma radiation than are healthy cells. In the past, the standard source for radiation therapy was radioactive 60Co, which decays, with a half-life of 5.27 y, into an excited nuclear state of 60Ni.That nickel isotope then immediately emits two gamma-ray photons, each with an approximate energy of 1.2 MeV. How many radioactive 60Co nuclei are present in a 6000 Ci source of the type used in hospitals? (Energetic particles from linear accelerators are now used in radiation therapy.)
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear fission is a type of nuclear reaction in which heavier nuclei split into lighter nuclei by releasing a large quantity of energy. The elements like uranium-235 and plutonium-239 isotope undergo nuclear fission releasing energy. When nuclei undergo fission, some quantity of mass is lost. The lost mass is converted to nuclear energy. Nuclear fission reaction is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs. In nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors are used to generate electricity.
Endothermic Nuclear Reaction
A nuclear reaction can be described as a process where two atoms, or two nuclei or nucleus and subatomic particles such as a proton, neutron interact together, and a large amount of energy is produced and new elements are also produced.
Cancer cells are more vulnerable to x and gamma
than are healthy cells. In the past, the standard source for radiation
therapy was radioactive 60Co, which decays, with a half-life of 5.27
y, into an excited nuclear state of 60Ni.That nickel isotope then immediately
emits two gamma-ray photons, each with an approximate
energy of 1.2 MeV. How many radioactive 60Co nuclei are
present in a 6000 Ci source of the type used in hospitals?
(Energetic particles from linear accelerators are now used in radiation
therapy.)
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