Question detail
Which of the following statements is true regarding radioactive isotopes used in medicine?
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
- A. They should have long half-lives to ensure safety.
- B. They must have suitable half-lives to balance effectiveness and safety.
- C. They are always safe regardless of their half-lives.
- D. They should have no half-life.
Answer
The correct answer is B: They must have suitable half-lives to balance effectiveness and safety..
Explanation
The correct answer is B: They must have suitable half-lives to balance effectiveness and safety.. This supports the learning objective "Link half-life to how quickly activity decreases." 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: They should have long half-lives to ensure safety.; They are always safe regardless of their half-lives.; They should have no half-life..
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life
Students often confuse half-life with the total time it takes for a radioactive substance to decay completely, rather than understanding it as the time taken for half of the substance to decay.
To fix this, students should focus on the definition of half-life and practice problems that illustrate how after each half-life, only half of the remaining substance decays.
Related flashcards
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Related practice questions
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