Chapter 20: Problem 112
The gold-198 isotope is used in the treatment of brain, prostate, and ovarian cancer. Au-198 has a half-life of \(2.69 \mathrm{~d}\). If a hospital needs to have \(15 \mathrm{mg}\) of Au- 198 on hand for treatments on a particular day, and shipping takes \(72 \mathrm{~h}\), what mass of Au- 198 needs to be ordered?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand the Half-life Concept
Convert Time Units
Calculate Number of Half-lives Passed
Apply the Radioactive Decay Formula
Calculate the Initial Amount
Conclusion
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Half-life
This concept is essential for calculating how much of a substance remains after a certain amount of time, as it provides a predictable pattern of decay. When dealing with medical isotopes like Gold-198, knowing the half-life ensures precise dosages can be calculated for treatments.
- Predictable: Half-life provides a dependable way to anticipate the decay process.
- Consistent: The time span for each half-life remains constant.
- Measurement: Often reported in seconds, minutes, hours, days, or even years, depending on the substance.
Gold-198
Au-198 emits beta particles and gamma rays, which are effective in damaging cancer cells. It has a half-life of 2.69 days, making it suitable for medical situations requiring radiation over a short period.
- Application: Used in targeted radiation treatments, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
- Handling: Requires careful transport and usage, given its radioactive nature.
Radioactive Isotopes
These isotopes have diverse applications, from medical treatments to industrial uses like radiographic inspection.
- Stability: Radioisotopes are inherently unstable, leading to the emission of radiation as they seek a stable state.
- Usage: In medicine, they track and diagnose conditions, as well as in treatment protocols.
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear chemistry involves the study of:
- Nuclear reactions: Such as fission and fusion, where atomic nuclei are split or combined.
- Radioactivity: The spontaneous emission of particles from an unstable nucleus.
- Nuclear decay: The process of a radioactive substance losing energy over time.