cobalt-60

STRUCTURE ©

COBALT-60
 A synthetic radioactive isotope of cobalt
with a half-life of 5.2714 years.
 A beta emitting radioactive isotope of
27p+ cobalt-59.
 Produced artificially in Nuclear Reactor,
33N developed by the process called
activation. During the activation, cobalt-
59 is covered into an operating nuclear
reactor and is exposed to a neutron flux,
27 e- the cobalt-59 absorb neutron and become
CHEMICAL NOTATION cobalt-60.

60 Mass Chemical
no. ABUNDANCE
cobalt-60 is synthetic and
Co ABOUT
symbol
0% not naturally occuring
27 Atomic
no. isotope on Earth because it
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
AUSES/APPLICATIONS
is formed from cobalt-59.
OF COBALT-60
 Group 9; Period 4; Transition Metal  Sterilization of medical equipment.
 Melting Point: 1768.15K  Accurate detection of explosive devices.
 Boiling Point: 3200.15K  Used in industrial radiography, to inspect
 Density: (kg m-3) 8800 metal parts and welds for defects
 Crystal Structure: Hexagonal  As a tracer for cobalt in chemical
 Metallic solid that can become reactions.
magnetically charged  Radiation source for pest insect
 Large sources can
HARMFUL cause skin burns, and sterilization.
EFFECTS death.  cobalt-60-generated gamma radiation is
 Prolonged exposure used to destroy tumors. This therapy is
to gamma radiation also known as Gamma Knife ® therapy.
can cause cancer. © radioactiveisotopes.weebly.com
 Remainings can © www.abta.org
© www.nde-ed.org
damage liver and ©emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes
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