Radioisotopes are playing a significant role in our lives. These are extensively utilized in the field of medicine, industry and research. A lot of new applications for their …show more content…
Industry utilizes radioisotopes in a diversity of methods to enhance productivity and attain information that cannot be obtained from other ways. Radioisotopes are usually used in industrial radiography, which uses a gamma source to conduct stress testing or check the integrity of welds – a common example is to test aero plane jet engine turbines for structural integrity. Radioisotopes are also used by industry for gauging (to measure levels of liquid inside containers, for example) or to measure the thickness of materials. Radioisotopes are also widely used in scientific research, and are employed in a range of applications, from tracing the flow of contaminants in biological systems, to determining metabolic …show more content…
Atoms have an exact number of protons, but may have a different number of neutrons due to the “binding energy” that holds them together. If the neutrons are lessened or increased, then there would be a “release” of energy, making the atom radioactive, hence the term “radioisotope. ‘Whenever we hear the term isotope or radioisotope, we would already think of Carbon 14 or something, that’s because it has been a common knowledge for some of us that the isotope Carbon 14 is usually used for treating Cancer.And yes, radioisotopes are able to help us “treat” diseases such as cancer. They also enable doctors do identify the specific areas or parts of the body of patients, so that they know where the problem lies. That’s what radioisotopes can do for us. They help us in locating problems in bodies; they help us in treating diseases and sicknesses, and is widely used in therapies and medicine. They even kill the bacteria in our food, and are sometimes used in the smoke detectors, but as we know, radioisotopes decay as well.While radioisotopes have a lot of advantages, they have their disadvantages as well. They are radioactive, and can be harmful and kill organisms. If the radioisotopes are given or pointed at a part of the body of a person, which is completely normal, then the radioisotopes would be killing healthy cells, and that would be harmful to the human being. And In addition, we know they are used in the construction of bombs. So that