Uses of radioisotopes and carbon dating

Uses of radioisotopes

Radioisotopes of elements have a wide variety of uses.

Cobalt-60	Used in medicine to treat cancer. Gamma rays can be focused on tumors.
Iodine-131	Used to treat thyroid gland (in the neck). If the gland is enlarged, iodine-131 can be absorbed and will partially destroy it.
Carbon-14	Used to date once-living materials.

Cobalt-60
Used in medicine to treat cancer. Gamma rays can be focused on tumors.

Iodine-131
Used to treat thyroid gland (in the neck). If the gland is enlarged, iodine-131 can be absorbed and will partially destroy it.

Carbon-14
Used to date once-living materials.

Carbon dating

Every living organism contains the radioisotope carbon-14. Carbon-14 is formed when neutrons from cosmic radiation collide with nitrogen atoms in our atmosphere forming protons and carbon-14 atoms.

\(_0^1n + _{\,\,7}^{14}N \to _{\,\,6}^{14}C + _1^1H\)

Carbon dioxide is responsible for carbon-14 entering the food chain.

Carbon-14 decays by beta-emission and has a half-life of 5730 years. This means that the beta-decay emissions can be monitored and the data used to calculate how long it has been since the material was alive.