Dear Students,

Please read the attached document thoroughly and answer the following questions. Please respond to at least two other classmates after submitting your post.

Nuclear Chemistry: Go through articles 1 and 2 listed below and list two radioisotopes along with their use in the medical field. ( 2 points) Even though radioisotopes have so many benefits in imaging, why is it so important to regulate their uses? (3 points)

1 https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/124/MajorUsesofRadioisotopes_IDPH_Rad_Health.pdf (Links to an external site.)

2. https://www.ansto.gov.au/education/nuclear-facts/what-are-radioisotopes (Links to an external site.)

Organic Chemistry: It is the Chemistry of carbon compounds. Please go over articles 3 and 4 and list five functional groups in organic compounds. (5 points).

3. https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2010/10/06/functional-groups-organic-chemistry/ (Links to an external site.)

4. https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Sacramento_City_College/SCC%3A_Chem_420_-_Organic_Chemistry_I/Text/02%3A_Structure_and_Properties_of_Organic_Molecules/2.09%3A_Organic_Functional_Groups (Links to an external site.)

Nuclear and Organic Chemistry Discussion

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Nuclear and Organic Chemistry Discussion

Radioisotopes are used in various ways in the field of medicine. Radioisotopes are particularly used in diagnosis (identification) and therapy (treatment) of various medical conditions (EPA, 2021). Two of the most commonly used radioisotopes include iodine-131 and technetium-99m. According to ANSTO (2022), iodine-131 is used to treat thyroid cancer. Since the thyroid gland helps by producing the body’s supply of iodine, it will naturally tolerate and contain iodine-131 injected into the patient (ANSTO, 2022). Once the isotope (iodine-131) is injected into the patient, it will attack the nearby cancer cells with an insignificant effect on healthy tissues. According to IDPH (n.d.), technetium-99m is widely used in diagnostic studies in nuclear medicine. Various chemical forms are used for brain, bone, liver, spleen, and kidney imaging and also for blood flow studies.

Although radioisotopes are very useful in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, too much radiation exposure can have detrimental health effects. According to EPA (2021), exposure to high radiation can cause both long-term and short-term health effects. Short-term health impacts, also called acute radiation syndrome, include nausea and vomiting within hours that may sometimes result in death over a couple of days or weeks (EPA, 2021). On the other hand, long-term effects include an increased risk of cancer. The risks depend upon the function of the specific radioisotope; and the route, magnitude, and duration of exposure. The solution to these problems includes limiting the time of exposure to the radioactive source, avoiding direct contact, and using shielding or respiratory protection (EPA, 2021). The health effects identified are rare and have the least chances of occurring when proper procedures are followed.

References

ANSTO. (2022). What are radioisotopes? https://www.ansto.gov.au/education/nuclear-facts/what-are-radioisotopes