Isotopes are “any of two or more forms of a chemical element, having the same number of protons in the nucleus, or the same atomic number, but having different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, or different atomic weight” (Dictionary.com). There are many different isotopes in this world, some more common than others. Krypton 85 and Copper 67 are just two of many other isotopes. Krypton has a very high boiling and melting point, at 153.4° C for boiling point and 157° C for a melting point (Chemistry Learner). It was found in 1898 by a Scottish chemist and physicist Sir William Ramsay with English chemist, Morris William Travers (Chemistry Explained). They let the air evaporate slowly after cooling it enough to make it in liquid form; at …show more content…
Although Krypton 85 is created by nuclear fission and creates beta radiation particles, it is still unknown what the exact damage to humans are, but it is still best to avoid all radiations (Great Krypton). Krypton 85 is also used to study the flow of the human blood (Krypton [Revised]). People inhale this isotope as a gas, and the gas travels into their bloodstream ( Chemistry Explained). As it travels, a technician would be monitoring its progress from outside ( Chemistry Explained). Through this, doctors can see how fast the blood is circulating, and where it is going and determine if it is normal behavior or not (Chemistry Explained). Another use for Krypton 85 is for bright light. Phosphors shine when struck by a electrons, so the radiation given off of Krypton 85 strikes the phosphors causing it to light up (Chemistry Explained). Finally, Krypton 85 is also used to find leaks in containers, aircrafts or pipes. They insert Krypton 85 into a supposed airtight container; if there were a leak, a special device that detects radiation placed outside would detect the Krypton 85 that managed to escape and let people know that the container is not air tight (Chemistry …show more content…
They first use a high-powered electron linear accelerator, which speeds the electrons to almost the speed of light, and these accelerators are not cheap (Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center Teams with International Isotopes to Produce Rare Cancer-fighting Isotope). In Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC), they made this accelerator which should cost about $ 3 million for $ 300 000 by taking parts from older accelerators and custom parts created by the IAC and build it, and the result is more powerful than other accelerators (Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center Teams with International Isotopes to Produce Rare Cancer-fighting Isotope). They put the zinc along with a ‘converter’ and with the new accelerator, which then shoots the electrons into the converter (Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center Teams with International Isotopes to Produce Rare Cancer-fighting Isotope). This converter is a material that creates a high-energy particle, a photon (Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center Teams with International Isotopes to Produce Rare Cancer-fighting Isotope). This photon would then enter the Zinc and take away one proton which result in Copper 67 (Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center Teams with International Isotopes to Produce Rare Cancer-fighting