放射化学方法-佩斯大学（ radiochemical methods- pace university）.docVIP

Chapter 32 Radiochemical Methods Radiochemical methods tend to be labor intensive and generate liquid waste due to the chemical separations that are involved. Furthermore, detection limits tend to be high for long-lived isotopes using radiochemical methods. /techmgmt/factsheets/deploys/icp-ms.htm Radioactive Isotopes: Radioactive isotopes have unstable nuclei that spontaneously change to form more stable nuclei. As a result, either new isotopes or new elements are produced. In this process of nuclear change, three kinds of rays, called alpha, beta, and gamma rays, are emitted from the nuclei of radioactive isotopes. Alpha rays are a stream of positively charged helium ions (He2+), which consist of two protons and two neutrons. Beta rays are a stream of electrons formed as neutrons change into protons. The electrons are ejected from the nuclei, and protons remain in the nuclei. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation released from nuclei as they lose energy. All isotopes of an element have the same atomic number, and their chemical behavior is very similar. For example, tritium can substitute for hydrogen, and either 125 iodine or 131 iodine can substitute for 126 iodine in chemical reactions. Clinicians and researchers commonly use radioactive isotopes because sensitive measuring devices can detect the radioactive rays emitted from isotopes, even when they are present in very small amounts. Several procedures that are used to determine the concentration of substances such as hormones depend on the incorporation of small amounts of radioactive isotopes such as hormones depend on the incorporation of small amounts of radioactive isotopes such as 125 iodine into the substances being measured. Disorders of the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland, and the reproductive organs can be more accurately diagnosed using these procedures. Radioactive isotopes are also used to treat cancer. Some of the particles released from isotopes have a very high energy co