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Radioactive isotopes are a subset of isotopes. If we look at all isotopes, some of them are radioactive. That means that they have unstable nuclei, and they will decay spontaneously sooner or later.

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14y ago
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5mo ago

Radioactive isotopes contain unstable nuclei that emit radiation as they decay to achieve more stable configurations. This property makes them valuable for medical imaging, cancer treatment, and dating geological samples. The unique ability of radioactive isotopes to give off radiation allows scientists to track processes within living organisms and study the age of materials.

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14y ago

Radioactive Isotopes have many uses- the half life of the RIs is known and that makes it useful in combating diseases like cancer and hyperthroidism. In case of hyperthyroidism- a RI of Iodine is used injected into the patient. The thyroid gland picks up the Iodine, and the RI starts to destroy cells of the gland due to its radiation.

Doctors are trained to calculate the damage to be done to the gland to reduce production of thyroxine and they know the dosage of the RI of Iodine to be given.

Similar RIs are used to irradiate potato, onions to give them a larger shelf life (where required) to enable storage over larger periods of time.

RIs are also used in X-ray machines.

Many uses.

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15y ago

How may radioactive isotopes be useful in biological research?

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7y ago

I think they can produce alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.

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14y ago

Explain how radioactive isotopes are useful to researchers.

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Q: What is special about radioactive isotopes?
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Related questions

What are isotopes considered radioactive?

Not all isotopes are radioactive; the radioactive isotopes are unstable and emit radiations.


How are radioactive isotopes different from isotopes?

Both isotopes and radioactive isotopes are pretty much the same but radioactive isotopes are better because it can be used to make medicine.


Does sodium contain radioactive isotopes?

Sodium has no radioactive isotopes.


Does radioactive isotopes have a stable nuclei?

Radioactive isotopes are not stable.


Does plutonium have isotopes that are all radioactive?

All the uranium isotopes are radioactive.


What happens to all radioactive isotopes?

All radioactive isotopes will disintegrate.


Are all isotopes of francium radioactive?

All isotopes of francium are radioactive.


Isotopes which have unstable nucleus and break down at a constant rate over time?

radioactive isotopes! :)


What are Radioactive isotopes used for?

Some examples are deuterium and tritium which are radioactive isotopes of hydrogen.


Does Barium have isotopes that are all radioactive?

No, Barium has both stable and radioactive isotopes. Out of its 25 known isotopes, only 6 of them are considered radioactive. The most stable isotope of Barium is Barium-138, which is not radioactive.


Are all transition elements are radioactive?

Not all of the transition elements are radioactive. Many of them are, and some of them have common radioactive isotopes, but some of them have no naturally occurring radioactive isotopes. Please note that all elements have synthetic radioactive isotopes, at least.


Why is silver radioactive?

Silver itself is not radioactive. However, certain isotopes of silver can be radioactive. For example, silver-108 and silver-110 are radioactive isotopes with long half-lives that can undergo radioactive decay. These isotopes are not commonly found in nature.