Biology 2010 Student Edition

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 9780133669510
ISBN 13: 978-0-13366-951-0

Chapter 2, The Chemistry of Life - Assessment - 2.1 The Nature of Matter - Understand Key Concepts/Think Critically - Page 56: 5

Answer

A radioactive isotope has an unstable nucleus. This isotope decays or rearranges itself until it reaches a stable state. Radioactive isotopes are used in the field of medicine. Radioisotope technetium-99 is used as a medical tracer that is injected into the body which shows on x-rays. Another use of radioisotopes is for dating fossils and rock layers. Uranium-235 can date fossils and rocks that range from 10 million to 4.6 billion years old.

Work Step by Step

A radioactive isotope has an unstable nucleus. This isotope decays or rearranges itself until it reaches a stable state. Radioactive isotopes are used in the field of medicine. Radioisotope technetium-99 is used as a medical tracer that is injected into the body which shows on x-rays. Another use of radioisotopes is for dating fossils and rock layers. Uranium-235 can date fossils and rocks that range from 10 million to 4.6 billion years old.
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