What are isotopes, what are radioisotopes, their uses and working

1. RADIOISOTOPES
Aditya Jee
Class- IX–’B’
Roll No.- 02

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Types and Survival
 Uses
 Common Examples
 Dangers
 Towards a Better World

3. INTRODUCTION
A radioisotope or radioactive isotope is a nuclide
that is radioactive. Also referred to as a radionuclide
or radioactive nuclide, it is an isotope with an unstable
nucleus, characterized by excess energy available to
be imparted either to a newly created radiation
particle within the nucleus or via internal conversion.
During this process, the radionuclide is said to
undergo radioactive decay, resulting in the emission of
gamma ray(s) and/or subatomic particles such as alpha
or beta particles. Many radionuclides occur naturally,
and others are produced artificially, for example in
nuclear reactors and cyclotrons.

4. TYPES AND SURVIVAL
Naturally occurring radioisotopes fall into
three categories: primordial radioisotopes,
secondary radioisotopes, and Cosmogenic
radioisotopes. Primordial radioisotopes, such as
uranium and thorium, originate mainly from the
interiors of stars and are still present as their
half-lives are so long they have not yet completely
decayed. Secondary radioisotopes are radiogenic
isotopes derived from the decay of primordial
radioisotopes. They have shorter half-lives than
primordial radioisotopes. Cosmogenic isotopes,
such as carbon-14, are present because they are
continually being formed in the atmosphere due to
cosmic rays.

5. USES
Radioisotopes are used in two major ways: for
their chemical properties and as sources of radiation.
Radioisotopes of familiar elements such as carbon can
serve as radioactive tracers because they are
chemically very similar to the nonradioactive nuclides,
so most chemical, biological, and ecological processes
treat them in a nearly identical way.
In nuclear medicine, radioisotopes are used for
diagnosis, treatment, and research. Radioactive
chemical tracers emitting gamma rays or positrons can
provide diagnostic information about a person's
internal anatomy and the functioning of specific
organs. This is used in some forms of tomography.

6. In biochemistry and genetics,
radioisotopes label molecules and allow tracing
chemical and physiological processes occurring
in living organisms, such as DNA replication or
amino acid transport.
In food preservation, radiation is used to
stop the sprouting of root crops after
harvesting, to kill parasites and pests, and to
control the ripening of stored fruit and
vegetables.
In industry, and in mining, radioisotopes
examine welds, to detect leaks, to study the
rate of wear, erosion and corrosion of metals,
and for on-stream analysis of a wide range of
minerals and fuels.

7. Common Examples
Some of the common examples of the
radioisotopes are as follows- tritium that is an
isotope of Hydrogen. Plutonium-241 is another
isotope formed by Uranium-238. The element
americium is created by bombarding plutonium
with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. Its isotope
americium-241 decays by emitting alpha particles
and gamma radiation to become neptunium-237.
Gadolinium-153 is another radioisotopes formed
and used in the x-rays, it have a eight month life-
period that and emits gamma radiations that helps
in the detection of radioactive movements in
patient’s body and also helps in finding the loss of
calcium from the backbone.

8. Dangers
Radioisotopes that find their way into the
environment may cause harmful effects as
radioactive contamination. They can also cause
damage if they are excessively used during
treatment or in other ways exposed to living
beings, by radiation poisoning. Potential health
damage from exposure to radioisotopes depends
on a number of factors, and can damage the
functions of healthy tissue/organs. Radiation
exposure can produce effects ranging from skin
redness and hair loss, to radiation burns and acute
radiation syndrome. Prolonged exposure can lead
to cells being damaged and in turn lead to cancer.
Signs of cancerous cells might not show up until
years, or even decades, after exposure.

9. Towards a better world
As a responsible citizen of this earth
we should look towards a better world with
the use of radioisotopes. Not a world
where nuclear bombs are used for causing
destruction and death but towards a world
where radioisotopes are used as a life
saver through x-rays and power supplier as
nuclear power. It is our mother Earth, let’s
make the best place to live in peace and
harmony. It depends on you and me that in
which world we want to live in.

10. Thanks
Hope you liked it……