cobalt 60

Học thuật
Thân thiện
cobalt 60

A technician carefully handles a sealed container of cobalt 60 in a laboratory.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A radioactive isotope of cobalt with mass number 60: It is an unstable form of the element cobalt that emits radiation as it decays.
    • A source of exceptionally intense gamma rays: Its radioactive decay produces powerful, penetrating gamma radiation.
    • Used in radiation therapy: Its primary application is in medical treatments, particularly for destroying cancer cells.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The hospital's radiation oncology department uses cobalt 60 for treating certain tumors.
    • The safe handling of cobalt 60 requires strict protocols due to its radioactivity.
    • Cobalt 60 has a half-life of approximately 5.27 years.
Advanced Usage
  • "cobalt-60 teletherapy": A specific form of external beam radiation therapy where gamma rays from a cobalt 60 source are directed at a tumor from outside the body.
    • Cobalt-60 teletherapy was a cornerstone of cancer treatment for decades.
Variants and Related Words
  • Radioisotope (n): A radioactive isotope of any element.
    • Cobalt 60 is a medically important radioisotope.
  • Gamma rays (n): A form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by radioactive substances like cobalt 60.
  • Radionuclide (n): An atom with an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay; cobalt 60 is a radionuclide.
Synonyms
  • Radioactive cobalt: A general term for the radioactive form of the element.
  • Co-60: A common abbreviated form of the term.
Related Phrases
  • Cobalt 60 source: Refers to the physical encapsulated material used in medical or industrial devices.
    • The malfunctioning device contained a small cobalt 60 source.
  • Cobalt unit: A machine, often called a "cobalt bomb" in historical contexts, used to deliver radiation from a cobalt 60 source.
    • The old cobalt unit was replaced with a modern linear accelerator.
cobalt 60

A technician carefully handles a sealed container of cobalt 60 in a laboratory.

Noun
  1. a radioactive isotope of cobalt with mass number 60; a source of exceptionally intense gamma rays; used in radiation therapy