Isotopes

Isotopes

What is an isotope?

An isotope is a variant of a specific chemical element. While all atoms of an element have the same number of protons, isotopes differ in the number of neutrons they contain.

6 Examples of Isotopes and Their Applications

5. Americium-241 ( Am)

6. Deuterium ( H)

4. Cobalt-60 ( Co)

Other applications

Radioactivity What is it?

Radioactivity is the spontaneous process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.

Radioactive waste problems.

Radioactive waste management is like trying to contain a fire that won't go out for millennia. The issue isn't just toxicity, but the combination of extreme longevity and storage safety.

Nuclear cemeteries. What are they? Is there a nuclear cemetery in Spain?

Nuclear cemeteries" (technically called Radioactive Waste Repositories) are specialized facilities designed to isolate radioactive materials from people and the environment until they are no longer dangerous.

Carbon-14 (C)

Type: Natural radioisotope. Application: Archaeological dating. It is used to determine the age of organic remains (bones, wood, fibers) up to 50,000 years old by measuring how much radioactive carbon remains in the sample.

Iodine131 (YO)

• Type: Artificial radioisotope.
• Application: Nuclear medicine. It is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid gland diseases, such as hyperthyroidism and certain types of cancer, since the thyroid gland naturally absorbs iodine.

Uranium-235 (U)

• Type: Fissile isotope.
• Application: Nuclear energy. It is the primary fuel in nuclear reactors and is used in the manufacture of atomic weapons due to its ability to sustain a chain reaction.