1. Topic: Nuclear Chemistry
Aim: What are benefits and risks of radioisotopes?
Do Now: What is a downfall of fission & fusion reactions?
HW:

2. Radioisotopes
An isotope of an element that is radioactive – decays to give off rays & particles

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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