Site pages
Current course
Participants
General
Topic 1
Topic 2
Topic 3
Topic 4
Topic 5
Topic 6
Topic 7
Topic 8
Topic 9
Topic 10
Topic 11
Topic 12
Topic 13
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 16
Topic 17
Topic 18
Topic 19
Topic 20
Topic 21
Topic 22
Topic 23
Topic 24
Topic 25
Topic 26
3.1.3. Types of radioisotopes
Naturally occurring radioisotopes: 1. Primordial radioisotopes Primordial radioisotopes originate mainly from the interiors of stars. eg. Uranium and Thorium. They are still present as their half-lives are so long that they are not yet completely decayed. 2. Secondary radioisotopes Secondary radioisotopes are radiogenic isotopes derived from the decay of primordial radioisotopes. They have shorter half-lives than primordial radioisotopes. 3. Cosmogenic radioisotopes Cosmogenic isotopes are continually being formed in the atmosphere due to cosmic rays. eg. Carbon-14 Artificially produced radioisotopes: 1. Nuclear reactors The high flux of neutrons activate the elements placed within the nuclear reactor to produce radioisotopes. eg. Thallium-201 and Iridium-192. 2. Particle accelerators Cyclotrons accelerate protons to bombard a target and produce positron that emits radioisotopes. eg. Fluorine-18. 3. Radionuclide generators Radioisotopes generators contain a parent isotope produced in a nuclear reactor, that decay to produce a radioisotope. e.g.Technetium-99 produced Molybdenum -99. 4. Nuclear explosionsRadioisotopes produced as an unavoidable side effect of nuclear and thermonuclear explosions. |