Did You Know About The Common Uses Of Radioactive Elements?

What Are Radioactive Elements?

Radioactive elements refer to the atoms whose nuclei are unstable and hence in the process of attaining stability they emit radiation. The emission of radiation turns the radioactive atoms into another element. The newly formed element may be radioactive or nonradioactive. If it is radioactive, there are further chances of emissions until it forms a stable nucleus.

Common examples of radioactive elements are Uranium, Radium, Polonium, Thorium, etc.

Radioactivity is an important aspect of Class 12 Physics NCERT chapter 13: Nuclei which discusses various Properties of Radioactive elements, Law of Radioactive decay, thermonuclear fusion reaction and many more. In NCERT chapter Nuclei we read about radioactive emission in the form of alpha, beta and gamma rays. In this article, we further discuss the real life applications of such radiations.

Application Of Radioactive Elements

Radioactive elements have multiple critical applications, though they can be dangerous if not handled properly.
Radiations emitted from radioactive elements have been conventionally used in varied fields ranging from medicine, industries, power generation, water treatment, and many more. Apart from these, we may see the application of radiation in areas such as agriculture, space exploration, and geology which pertains to mining and carbon dating among others. In this article, we discuss some of the important applications of radioactive elements in various fields.

Medical Uses

Variety of nuclear materials are used in hospitals by doctors, and dentists in procedures to diagnose various medical conditions in humans. A few of the important applications of radioactive elements for medicinal use are:

• Gamma rays are used to kill cancerous cells which is a method of radiotherapy.

• Cobalt-60 is used to destroy carcinogenic cells.

• I-131 is used for thyroid function tests and for treating thyroid cancer.

• Sr-89, used for treating bone cancer, intravenous injection

Apart from the above uses, radioactive elements are also used in research on metabolic processes.

Industrial Uses

There is a big list of applications of radioactive elements in various industries. To know more about the uses, let us discuss some of the usages.

• Nonstick cookware is treated with gamma rays to keep food from sticking to the metal surface.

• We see reflective signs around us mainly as signboards on the road. Such boards are treated with radioactive tritium and phosphorescent paint.

• Engineers use the gauges containing radioactive substances to measure the thickness of paper products, fluid levels in oil and chemical tanks, and the moisture and density of soils and material at construction sites.

• Radioactive materials are used to power the spacecraft in space as they fuel the spacecraft and supply electricity to satellites that are sent on missions to the outermost regions of our solar system.

In industries too we can see more such applications of radioactive materials. There is continuous research and development and we are yet to see how useful these elements can be.

Agriculture

In agriculture, radiation is used to improve food production and packaging.

For example, plant seeds are exposed to radiation to bring about new and better types of plants. Radiation helps control insect populations which leads to decrease the use of hazardous pesticides and it further makes plants stronger.

Gamma rays kill microbes present in food and prevent it from decaying by increasing the shelf life.

Nuclear Power Plants

One of the most important applications of radioactive elements is in the nuclear power plants for electricity generation.

Mostly, power generated in nuclear plants follow the process of nuclear fission which involves the splitting of the atom into smaller atoms thereby releasing the energy used for electricity generation.

With the increase in population of the country, a reliable, abundant, clean, and affordable source of electricity is the need of the hour. Here comes the role of nuclear backed power generation.

The working mechanism of nuclear power plants involves boiling of water to produce steam to power a generator to produce electricity.

Nuclear power plants are mostly fueled by uranium, which emits radioactive substances. Power generated by nuclear plants has the potential to fulfill the power demands of a huge population. There are some hazards associated with nuclear power plants which must be addressed properly in order to ensure utmost safety.

Academic And Scientific Applications

Radioactive elements are used in universities, colleges, high schools, and other academic and scientific institutions for laboratory demonstrations and experimental research. Research tells us more about the chemical properties of the radioactive elements, helps in finding out the applications to solve real world problems, helps in finding the methods of mitigating negative effects of radioactive elements.

Apart from these, we may find the use of radioactive materials by archaeologists in determining the ages of fossils and other objects through a process called carbon dating. This method contributes heavily in the field of Geology and mineral exploration.

Also, the age of the rocks can be studied using radioactive radiations by measuring the argon content present in the rock.

We have discussed the important applications of radioactive elements in multiple fields, apart from the uses of radioactive elements, we must not neglect the hazards associated with most radioactive elements as exposure to large amounts of radioactivity can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, destruction of the intestinal lining, central nervous system damage. Serious nuclear power plant accidents including the Fukushima nuclear disaster (2011), the Chernobyl disaster (1986), the Three Mile Island accident (1979) etc have led to huge loss to humanity. Hence the use of radioactive elements with proper safety can be of great help for mankind.