nuclear chemistry

C-14

Determine the age of once living things

Also a tracer

U-238

Determine age of geological formations from ratio of U-238 : Pb-206

Spontaneously decays until forms Pb-206

P-31

A tracer (used to track P in) fertilizer

I-131

Thyroid issues****

(Diagnose/treats cancer)

(Kill bacteria)

Co-60

Gamma radiation kills bacteria

Diagnose/treats cancer

Cs-137

Gamma radiation kills bacteria

Tc-99

Detects cancer**

(D tect, T tect mnemonic)

When radioisotopes are used for diagnostic purposes…

It is advantageous if

-short half life

-quick elimination from body

Radioisotope

An isotope that is unstable due to an imbalance in neutrons to proteins

Tracer

A radioisotope is used to follow the path of an element/material in a system/organism

Natural transmutation

-spontaneous (no energy required or occur)

-1 reactant (a radioisotope)

Artificial transmutation

Nonspontaneous (requires energy to occur)

2 reactants

Ex: nuclear fusion and fission

Nuclear fusion (3 key facts)

Combine smaller nuclei to produce bigger nuclei (2 light nuclei → 1 heavy nucleus

Rxns commonly include H & He (think of the sun)

Makes LOTS energy, requires LOTS temperature