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Chapter 21: Problem 71

Which of the following poses a greater health hazard: a radioactive isotope with a short half-life or a radioactive isotope with a long half-life? Explain. [Assume same type of radiation \((\alpha\) or \(\beta)\) and comparable energetics per particle emitted.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Both types of radioactive isotopes pose health hazards but in different scenarios. A short half-life isotope is more dangerous in an acute exposure due to rapid radiation emission. Whereas, a long half-life isotope can be more hazardous in chronic exposure situations due to steady radiation over a long period.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Half-life

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms present in a sample to decay. A radioactive isotope with a short half-life decays rapidly, emitting radiation more frequently. On the other hand, a radioactive isotope with a long half-life decays slowly, hence it would continue to emit radiation over a long period of time.
02

Considering the Health Hazards

A radioactive isotope with short half-life releases radiation at a faster rate. This means a high rate of energy release, which can be very harmful in a short amount of time. However, an isotope with a long half-life, while releasing radiation at a slower pace, would be a continuous source of radiation for a prolonged time, which can cause cumulative damage.
03

Forming the Conclusion

The greater hazard depends on the context. In case of acute exposure, a radioactive isotope with a short half-life poses a greater threat because it will emit a large amount of radiation in a short time. However, for chronic exposure scenarios, a radioactive isotope with a long half-life could be more hazardous due to a steady slow dose over a longer period of time.

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