Topic: Nuclear Chemistry Aim: What are benefits and risks of radioisotopes? Do Now: What is a downfall of fission & fusion reactions? HW:
Radioisotopes An isotope of an element that is radioactive – decays to give off rays & particles
Benefits Tracers Medical Food storage Follow chemical or biological rxn (C-14) Medical Radioisotopes w/short half-lives used to diagnose/treat disease Tc-99 – brain tumors I-131 – thyroid Ra & Co-60 – cancer (radiation therapy!) Food storage Kills bacteria, yeast, mold
Benefits Radioactive dating Nuclear Power Industrial measurement Geologic – U-238 Organic material (once alive) – C-14 Nuclear Power Reactors – energy/electricity ~17% of the world’s electricity Industrial measurement Thickness of a metal
Risks Biological damage Long term storage Accidents Pollution Destruction of cells (somatic vs. reproductive) Long term storage Long half-life! Accidents Chernobyl Pollution Air, water, food, soil