Question detail

Why is it important to choose isotopes with suitable half-lives for medical applications?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation

Question

  1. A. To ensure they can be detected in the body
  2. B. To minimize the exposure risk to patients
  3. C. To maximize the radiation dose received
  4. D. To ensure they are always radioactive

Answer

The correct answer is B: To minimize the exposure risk to patients.

Explanation

The correct answer is B: To minimize the exposure risk to patients. This supports the learning objective "Explain why isotope choice depends on balancing usefulness and exposure risk." in Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes idea: To ensure they can be detected in the body; To maximize the radiation dose received; To ensure they are always radioactive.

Common mistake

Isotope Selection Confusion

Students often confuse the importance of half-life with the type of radiation emitted when choosing isotopes for medical or industrial use.

Emphasize that both the half-life and the radiation type must be considered to ensure the isotope is useful while minimizing exposure risk.

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