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