radioactive isotope
Decaying atomic variant
A radioactive isotope is a variant form of a chemical element whose nucleus is unstable, causing it to emit radiation as it decays into a more stable form.
Some occur naturally, like carbon-14 used in dating ancient materials; others are manufactured for medical imaging, cancer treatment, or nuclear power.
Also called radioisotope.
- uranium-238Predominant uranium isotope
- iodine-131Radioactive halogen isotope
- technetium-99mMetastable medical radioisotope
- medical imagingCreating pictures inside bodies
- atomic nucleusDense atomic center
nuclear fission · cesium-137 · carbon-14 · half-life · cancer treatment · potassium-40 · dosimeter · dirty bomb · fallout shelter · hot zone · radiocarbon dating · waste disposal · nuclear power · fuel rods · spent fuel · sterilization · smoke detectors · radon
- radiologyX-ray, CT scan, MRI machine, MRI, radiologist
- metastable statessupercooled water, diamond, white phosphorus, antihydrogen
- radioactive decayalpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay, half-life, decay rate
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