Question

Write the uses of Radioactive substances. 

Answer 1

1. Medical Applications:
   1. Cancer Treatment: Radioactive isotopes such as cobalt-60 and iodine-131 are used to treat cancer through radiation.
   2. Diagnostic Imaging: Medical imaging uses radioisotopes like Technetium-99m to identify conditions by tracing organ function. 
2. Industrial applications: 
   1. Material Testing: Non-destructive testing (NDT) uses radioactive sources to test materials and buildings for defects.
   2. Thickness Gauges: Radioisotopes are used in manufacturing to measure the thickness of materials such as paper, plastic, and metal.
3. Energy Production:
   1. Nuclear Power: Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are used as fuel in nuclear reactors to produce power.
4. Agriculture:
   1. Food Irradiation: Radioactive materials keep food safe by destroying bacteria, bugs, and other pathogens.
   2. Tracer Studies: Radioisotopes investigate nitrogen uptake in plants and optimize fertilizer use.
5. Scientific Research:
   1. Radiocarbon dating: It uses carbon-14 to calculate the age of fossils and archaeological objects.
   2. Tracer Techniques: Methods used in research to track the transport of components in biochemical and environmental processes.
6. Space exploration:
   1. Power Sources: Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) supply energy for spacecraft and probes when solar power is unavailable.