Textbook Question
A selenium-75 source is producing 300 rem at a distance of 2.0 m?
b. What is its intensity at 25 m?
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Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 11, Problem 63
Why are rems the preferred units for measuring the health effects of radiation?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of rems: The rem (Roentgen Equivalent Man) is a unit used to measure the biological effects of ionizing radiation on human tissue. It accounts for both the amount of radiation absorbed and the type of radiation, which can have different biological impacts.
Recognize the limitations of other units: Units like the rad (radiation absorbed dose) only measure the amount of energy absorbed by a material but do not consider the type of radiation or its biological effects. This makes them less useful for assessing health risks.
Learn about radiation weighting factors: Different types of radiation (e.g., alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays) have varying levels of biological impact. The rem incorporates a weighting factor to adjust for these differences, making it more accurate for health-related assessments.
Understand the focus on human health: The rem is specifically designed to evaluate the potential damage to human tissue, making it the preferred unit in medical and safety contexts where the focus is on protecting human health.
Appreciate the practical application: By using rems, scientists, healthcare professionals, and safety regulators can better assess and communicate the risks of radiation exposure, ensuring appropriate safety measures are implemented.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radiation Measurement Units
Radiation measurement units are essential for quantifying exposure and effects of radiation on human health. The rem (roentgen equivalent man) is a unit that accounts for the biological impact of different types of radiation, making it particularly relevant for assessing health risks.
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Biological Effectiveness
Biological effectiveness refers to the varying impacts that different types of radiation have on living tissues. The rem unit incorporates a quality factor that adjusts for these differences, allowing for a more accurate representation of potential health effects from various radiation sources.
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Health Risk Assessment
Health risk assessment involves evaluating the potential adverse effects of radiation exposure on human health. Using rems allows health professionals to communicate risks effectively, as it provides a standardized measure that reflects both the dose of radiation and its biological consequences.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
If a radiation source has an intensity of 650 rem at 1.0 m, what distance is needed to decrease the intensity of exposure to below 25 rem, the level at which no effects are detectable?
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Textbook Question
Bismuth-212 attaches readily to monoclonal antibodies and is used in the treatment of various cancers. This bismuth-212 is formed after the parent isotope undergoes a decay series consisting of four α decays and one β decay (the decays could be in any order). What is the parent isotope for this decay series?
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Textbook Question
Film badge dosimeters typically include filters to target specific types of radiation. A film badge is constructed that includes a region containing a tin foil filter, a region containing a plastic film filter, and a region with no filter. Which region monitors exposure to α-radiation? Which monitors exposure to β-radiation? Which monitors γ-radiation? Explain.
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Textbook Question
Identify the starting radioisotopes needed to balance each of these nuclear reactions:
a. ? + 42He → 11349In
b. ? + 42He → 137N + 10n
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Textbook Question
What does it mean when we say that strontium-90, a waste product of nuclear power plants, has a half-life of 28.8 years?