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Chapter 19: Problem 66

Each of the following isotopes has been used medically for the purpose indicated. Suggest reasons why the particular element might have been chosen for this purpose a. cobalt-57, for study of the body's use of vitamin \(\mathrm{B}_{12}\) b. calcium- 47 , for study of bone metabolism c. iron-59, for study of red blood cell function

Short Answer

Expert verified
Cobalt-57 is used for studying the body's use of vitamin B12 because of its similar chemical behavior to natural cobalt found in vitamin B12 and its detectable gamma radiation. Calcium-47 is used for studying bone metabolism as it can be incorporated into the bone like natural calcium, and its positron emissions can be externally detected to study calcium movement. Iron-59 is used for studying red blood cell function as it substitutes for natural iron in hemoglobin molecules, and its emitted beta particles can be externally detected for analysis. Each isotope has a suitable half-life for its respective study without causing significant radiation exposure to the patients.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Cobalt-57 properties

Cobalt-57 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 271.8 days. It decays by electron capture, leading to the production of gamma rays, which can be externally detected.
02

Suggest reasons for using Cobalt-57 in studying vitamin B12

Cobalt-57 has a similar chemical behavior to the natural cobalt in vitamin B12. This isotope can be incorporated into a compound that mimics vitamin B12 and introduced to the body. The gamma radiation emitted by Cobalt-57 can be detected from outside the body after the cobalt complex has been consumed. The slow decay, the half-life of 271.8 days, allows for enough time to study its absorption and utilization without causing significant harm to the patient. Therefore, Cobalt-57 is suitable for studying the body's use of vitamin B12.
03

Understand Calcium-47 properties

Calcium-47 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 4.54 days. It decays through beta decay, releasing positrons that can be externally detected.
04

Suggest reasons for using Calcium-47 in studying bone metabolism

Calcium is essential for bone health and its metabolism, and Calcium-47 can be incorporated into the bone, just like the natural calcium. The released positrons can be externally detected and used to study the bone metabolism. Due to the moderately short half-life of 4.54 days, Calcium-47 can provide real-time information on calcium movement in the body and reduce the risk of significant exposure to radiation. Therefore, Calcium-47 is suitable for studying bone metabolism.
05

Understand Iron-59 properties

Iron-59 is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 44.6 days. It decays through beta decay, releasing beta particles that can be externally detected.
06

Suggest reasons for using Iron-59 in studying red blood cell function

Iron is an essential component of the hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout our body. Iron-59 can substitute for natural iron in these molecules, and its emitted beta particles can be detected externally. The half-life of 44.6 days allows for a reasonable time to study the red blood cell function without causing significant radiation exposure to the patient. Consequently, Iron-59 is suitable for studying red blood cell function.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The number of radioactive nuclides in a sample decays from $1.00 \times 10^{20}\( to \)2.50 \times 10^{19}$ in 10.0 minutes. What is the half-life of this radioactive species?

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The radioactive isotope \(^{242} \mathrm{Cm}\) decays by a series of \(\alpha\) -particle and \(\beta\) -particle productions, taking \(^{242} \mathrm{Cm}\) through many transformations to end up as \(^{206} \mathrm{P} \mathrm{b}\) . In the complete decay series, how many \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) particles are produced?

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