Radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapy have a “shelf-life,” like pharmaceuticals used in chemotherapy. Just after it has been manufactured in a nuclear reactor, the activity of a sample of 60Co is 5000 Ci. When its activity falls below 3500 Ci, it is considered too weak a source to use in treatment. You work in the radiology department of a large hospital. One of these 60Co sources in your inventory was manufactured on October 6, 2011. It is now April 6, 2014. Is the source still usable? The half-life of 60Co is 5.271 years.

Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
10th Edition
ISBN:9781337399074
Author:John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Publisher:John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Chapter25: Nuclear Chemistry
Section25.4: Rates Of Nuclear Decay
Problem 25.5CYU
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Radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapy have a “shelf-life,” like pharmaceuticals used in chemotherapy. Just after it has been manufactured in a nuclear reactor, the activity of a sample of 60Co is 5000 Ci. When its activity falls below 3500 Ci, it is considered too weak a source to use in treatment. You work in the radiology department of a large hospital. One of these 60Co sources in your inventory was manufactured on October 6, 2011. It is now April 6, 2014. Is the source still usable? The half-life of 60Co is 5.271 years.

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