Radioisotope

Definition

A radioisotope is an isotope of an element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radiation during its decay to a stable form. This radiation can be in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma particles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Radioisotopes are used in medicine for diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment.
2. The stability of a radioisotope depends on the ratio of neutrons to protons in its nucleus.
3. Common examples of radioisotopes include Carbon-14 and Uranium-238.
4. Radioactive decay follows first-order kinetics, meaning the rate depends on the amount of undecayed nuclei present.
5. Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Review Questions

• What type of radiation can be emitted by a radioisotope?
• How does the neutron-to-proton ratio affect the stability of a radioisotope?
• Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioisotope.

Related terms

Isotope:

Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number but have the same number of protons.

Half-Life: The time required for one-half of the nuclei in a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo decay.

Radiation: The emission and propagation of energy through space or through a material medium in the form of waves or particles.