Radioisotopes and their Uses
| Radioisotopes | Uses |
| Carbon – 14 | Carbon Dating; When an organism dies it stops taking in new carbon atoms so the amount of carbon-14 slowly drops as the atoms decay. By measuring the radiation from the carbon-14 atoms the age of the remains can be determined. |
| Cobalt – 60 | Cancer Treatment; weak beams of radiation will kill cancer cells more easily than healthy cells. Cobalt-60 is also used to kill germs and bacteria. |
| Krypton – 81 | Tracers; a small amount of krypton is breathed in, it decays in the lungs and the radiation can be detected and viewed on a screen where it shows up as bright spots.
Dark patches show where the lungs are not working properly. |
| Cesium – 137 | Kill Germs and Bacteria; a low dose of gamma radiation is used to kill bacteria in food that causes it to decay. They also kill germs and bacteria on surgical equipment. |