Video Transcript
Which of the following is not a medical use of radioactive isotopes? (A) Treating cancer, (B) checking thyroid function, (C) measuring thickness of paper,
(D) tracer studies, (E) locating tumors.
In this question, we want to determine which process is not a medical use of
radioactive isotopes.
Isotopes are the different forms of the same element. These atoms contain the same number of protons and thus are atoms of the same element
with the same chemical properties. The key difference is that isotopes have a different number of neutrons. A radioactive material is material which emits ionizing radiation or particles.
An isotope is radioactive when it has too many or too few neutrons in its
nucleus. This causes these atoms to be unstable. To become stable, the isotopes emit radiation or particles. The word radioactive was first coined by Marie Curie and her husband. The term radio is derived from a Latin word meaning to shine. And the suffix -active means engaged in energetic pursuits.
Radioactive isotopes are found in nature and can be artificially made. Not only that, but scientists have found uses for these unstable atoms. Radioactive isotopes are used in many different types of medical practices. These include cancer treatments, diagnosing thyroid conditions, determining the
location of tumors, and tracer studies. From this, we can conclude that answer (C), measuring the thickness of paper, is our
answer since it is not a medical practice.
So, which of the following is not a medical use of radioactive isotopes? The answer is (C), measuring thickness of paper.
