Iodine+131

Oscar Espinoza 12/5/2010 CHEM IB Extra Credits ** __Different uses of Isotopes__ **

Iodine-131 is an interesting isotope that has been put to use and researched these past 5 decades. Iodine by itself is usually absorbed by the thyroid glands in order for it to function, and can be absorbed through food and other means. When patients, on some level, develop some sort of cancerous tissue in the thyroid, the doctors found that putting the same elemental isotope on the thyroid (so it accepts it ) but different neutrons would help get rid of this cancerous tissue. The reason for this is that Iodine-131 is actually radioactive, and when it is used in large doses. After 8 days, it decays and lets out a beta particle, which in turn, eliminates any tissue along the way. Scientist are very careful where they aim and release these radioactive atoms into the thyroid, and with a couple of doses the cancer cells can be easily managed, without them being able to spread further.

Here is a picture of the depicted half-life of this isotope: Back in the 50’s and 60’s when there was a lot of nuclear testing, this isotope got into a lot of food and the U.S. saw a big problem with people getting dosed with this certain atom. Children especially developed symptoms and this is when they mainly started researching it.