Can someone please tell me what four radioisotopes are used in medical diagnosis or treatment, and what their nuclear symbols are? Thanks
answered below.
Thank you DrBob222. Those were very helpful.
Certainly! The four radioisotopes commonly used in medical diagnosis or treatment are:
1. Technetium-99m (Tc-99m)
2. Iodine-131 (I-131)
3. Cobalt-60 (Co-60)
4. Radon-222 (Rn-222)
Now, let me explain how you can find their nuclear symbols.
1. Technetium-99m (Tc-99m):
Technetium-99m is usually produced from decay of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). Its nuclear symbol can be derived as follows:
- Technetium falls under the element symbol "Tc" on the periodic table.
- The number 99 indicates its mass number, which is the sum of its protons and neutrons.
2. Iodine-131 (I-131):
Iodine-131 is a well-known radioisotope used in nuclear medicine. Here's how to derive its nuclear symbol:
- Iodine can be represented by the element symbol "I."
- The number 131 indicates its mass number, which is the sum of its protons and neutrons.
3. Cobalt-60 (Co-60):
Cobalt-60 is commonly used in radiation therapy. To find its nuclear symbol, follow these steps:
- Cobalt can be represented by the element symbol "Co."
- The number 60 represents its mass number, which is the sum of its protons and neutrons.
4. Radon-222 (Rn-222):
Radon-222 is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Its nuclear symbol can be obtained as follows:
- Radon falls under the element symbol "Rn" on the periodic table.
- The number 222 indicates its mass number, which is the sum of its protons and neutrons.
Remember that the atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus, while the mass number represents the sum of protons and neutrons.