What radiation does cobalt-60 emits?

gamma rays
Cobalt-60 emits two high energy gamma rays, making cobalt-60 both an internal and external hazard.

How does cobalt become radioactive?

Cobalt (chemical symbol Co) is a hard, gray-blue metal that is solid under normal conditions. Cobalt is similar to iron and nickel in its properties and can be magnetized like iron. The most common radioactive isotope. It is formed when metal structures, such as steel rods, are exposed to neutron radiation.

What is the nuclear equation for cobalt-60?

Cobalt-60 is a nuclide that β− decays in the following manner: 60Co → 60Ni + β−+ neutrino.

How does cobalt-60 work in radiation therapy?

Isotope. As used in radiotherapy, cobalt units produce stable, dichromatic beams of 1.17 and 1.33 MeV, resulting in an average beam energy of 1.25 MeV. The cobalt-60 isotope has a half-life of 5.3 years so the cobalt-60 needs to be replaced occasionally.

How does cobalt-60 produce gamma rays?

The commonly used sources of radiation are cobalt-60, a radioactive element emitting γ-rays, or an accelerator producing a beam of electrons. Cobalt-60 is produced by neutron bombardment of stable cobalt in a nuclear reactor. Cobalt-60 decays continuously.

Why does cobalt-60 produce gamma rays?

Cobalt-60 decays by beta and gamma emission to non-radioactive nickel. Most of the radiation from the decay of cobalt- 60 is in the form of gamma emissions; some is in the form of beta particles. Beta particles are generally absorbed in the skin and do not pass through the entire body.

Does cobalt-60 emit beta radiation?

How does cobalt-60 change in the environment? Cobalt-60 decays by beta and gamma emission to non-radioactive nickel. Most of the radiation from the decay of cobalt- 60 is in the form of gamma emissions; some is in the form of beta particles.

What types of reactions will produce radiation?

The two most common modes of natural radioactivity are alpha decay and beta decay. Most nuclear reactions emit energy in the form of gamma rays.

How does cobalt-60 affect the environment?

How is radiation used in nuclear power plants?

Rather, the uranium fuel generates heat through a process called fission. Nuclear power plants are fueled by uranium, which emits radioactive substances. However, small amounts of these radioactive substances (mostly gases) become mixed with the water that is used to cool the reactor.

Why does cobalt-60 undergo radioactive decay?

Cobalt-60 decays to Nickel-60 plus an electron and an electron antineutrino. The decay is initially to a nuclear excited state of Nickel-60 from which it emits either one or two gamma ray photons to reach the ground state of the Nickel isotope.