Although it can be destructive, radioactivity is also beneficial, especially when it comes to medical tests and certain medical treatments. Not only can radiation find tumors within the body, it can also destroy them or slow their growth. Without radiation, society would not have medical imaging technology, such as X-rays. Radiation also makes it possible to study matter, plants and animals in an effort to understand the universe better.
Radiation can also be used to create electrical energy. Nuclear reactor plants are located all over the country for this purpose. These plants use uranium in fission reactions to produce heat and steam. The steam is then used to turn a turbine, thus creating electricity.
Additionally, radiation can be used to clean and sterilize medical equipment, medical instruments and even food. This is accomplished by focusing concentrated beams on objects that need to be sterilized. The radiation kills bacteria and other organisms that cause contamination and disease. Since sterilization is performed using certain types of radiation along with electromagnetic energy, there is no residual radiation leftover to contaminate the objects.
While radiation has many benefits, too much of it can kill people, animals, plants, trees and any other living thing it comes into contact with on Earth. This is especially true if there is prolonged exposure.Learn More
Scintillation counters are important tools for detecting and measuring radioactivity. They work by exposing radioactive materials to atoms within the detector that temporarily absorb the radiated energy. These excited atoms return to their unexcited state and emit photons that are detected by the scintillation counter.Full Answer >
The lightest gas is hydrogen. This element is lighter than air and was used in dirigibles, or blimps, until deemed unsafe. Hydrogen is in the topmost layers of Earth's atmosphere because it rises above other gases.Full Answer >
The boiling point of dichloromethane is 103.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The compound has a molecular formula of CH2Cl2 and is an organic solvent that is widely used in organic chemistry.Full Answer >
The boiling point of DMF, or dimethylformamide, is 153 degrees Celsius or approximately 307 degrees Fahrenheit. DMF is produced by combining dimethylamine and carbon monoxide.Full Answer >