Some examples of the uses of radioisotopes in the world around us.

2. Name of decay
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Symbol
How The Decay
Happen?
What happens What happens
to the Atomic to the Mass
Number?
Number?

3. Americium
241
RADIATION
DETECTOR
Americium
241
SMOKE
RADIATION
DETECTOR

4. Patient is injected with a
radioisotope.
The isotopes decay gives out
radiation.
A large detection machine is used
to trace the isotope through the
human body.
The picture on the right is a
tracer used to check if the
kidneys are working correctly.

5. Food is exposed to gamma rays
This kills all the bacteria and
microbes.
The food stays fresher for longer
because there are less bacteria.

7. 1. You are given one isotope card, write down the symbol, with the atomic
number at the top and the mass number at the bottom
2. Now, work out the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in your
isotope, and write each beside the isotope symbol
3. Once you have these numbers, try drawing the isotope in your book
Eg
6
C
15