Question

Which of the properties of radio isotopes make them useful as traces in medical or agricultural applications?
1. Their chemical behavior is the same as non – radioactive isotopes.
2. They emit various types of radiation
3. The nuclear reaction is unaffected by the chemical state of isotope.

A. Only 1
B. 1 and 3
C. 1 and 2
D. All of these

Answer 1

The radioisotopes have unstable nuclei. The nucleus of the elements contains neutrons and protons. Radioisotopes emit high energy that can be used for various purposes. They can be made in laboratories also. Changes in the nucleus occur during the nuclear reactions.

Complete answer:
The atoms which contain an unstable combination of neutrons and protons or excess energy in their nucleus are called radioisotopes or radioactive isotopes. When these elements break down they release high amounts of energy and become stable. They can be found in laboratories and also naturally present on earth.
Radioisotopes have many properties which make them useful in medical or agricultural applications.
1. The chemical behavior of radioactive isotopes is the same as non-radioactive isotopes. The isotopes of an element have the same number of electrons as an atom of that element so they have similar chemical properties.
2. They emit various types of radiation. The radioactive particles emit three types of radiation that are: alpha, beta, and gamma. These all radiations come from the nucleus of the atom. They cause ionization, but their behavior is slightly differently because of the way they are made up.
3. The chemical state of isotopes remains unaffected by the nuclear reaction. Nuclear reactions bring changes in the nucleus and radioisotopes contain unstable nuclei themselves.
From the above information we have found that all these properties of the radio-isotopes make them useful as traces in medical and agricultural applications.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Radioisotopes have huge application in the imaging tests and in treatment. They are also called radionuclides. The radioisotopes include many medicinal applications such as cobalt-60 is extensively used as a radiation source to stop the development of the cancer. They are also used in diagnostic purposes, research and metabolic processes.