CAESIUM ATOMIC MASS GENERATOR

This Cs-137/Ba-137m Isotope Generator is used to demonstrate the properties of radioactive decay. Before the construction of the first artificial nuclear reactor in late 1942 (the Chicago Pile-1), caesium-137 had not occurred on Earth in significant amounts for about 1.7 billion years. What is the history of cesium 137?Ĭaesium-137 is produced from the nuclear fission of plutonium and uranium, and decays into barium-137.

One of its most important uses is in the ‘caesium clock’ (atomic clock). They are also used to make special optical glass, as a catalyst promoter, in vacuum tubes and in radiation monitoring equipment. The most common use for caesium compounds is as a drilling fluid. Cesium-137 emits beta particles as it decays to the barium isotope, Ba-137m (half life = 2.6 minutes). Read More: What is a drug dependent person? How long will it take for all the cesium 137 to decay into barium 137?Ĭesium-137 is significant because of its prevalence, relatively long half life (30 years), and its potential effects on human health. In the context of the Goiânia accident, CsCl is described as showing a blue glow in the dark. It can be handled only under inert gas, such as argon. It is stored and shipped in dry, saturated hydrocarbons such as mineral oil. Can you touch cesium?īecause of this high reactivity, caesium metal is classified as a hazardous material. Gamma rays A Cs-137 atom emits radiation in the form of medium energy gamma rays, and to a lesser extent, high-energy beta particles, which disrupt molecules in cells and deposits energy in tissues, causing damage. Its half-life is too short for it to persist from natural fission sources, and on earth it is a synthetic isotope only. Is Cesium-137 naturally occurring?ĭespite its prevalence in spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste, cesium-137 is actually extremely rare. When the nuclide Cesium-137 decays to barium-137 what kind of decay does cesium 137 undergo?īeta decay Cesium-137 has a radioactive half-life of about 30 years and decays by beta decay either to stable barium-137 or a meta-stable form of barium (barium-137m). Exposure to Cs-137 can increase the risk for cancer because of exposure to high-energy gamma radiation. What does Caesium 137 do to the body?Įxternal exposure to large amounts of Cs-137 can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death. What is the decay constant for Cs-137?Ĭs decays with a half-life of (30.05 ± 0.08) years to either the 137Ba ground state, with emission of a β particle (Q = 1176 keV, 5.3%), or to 137mBa (Q = 514 keV, 94.7%) which rapidly (t 1 / 2 = 2.552 min) decays to the 137Ba ground state with emission of a 661.7 keV γ photon. It is produced in some abundance by fission reactions. This particular isotope of caesium is both a beta and gamma emitter. Is Cesium-137 a gamma emitter?Ĭaesium 137 is a radioactive element with a relatively long half-life of 30.15 years. Co produces gamma rays with energies of 1.173 and 1.332 MeV and has a half-life of 5.27 years, whereas 137Cs produces gamma rays with an energy of 0.662 MeV and has a longer half-life of 30.1 years. Cobalt-60 (60Co) and caesium-137 ( 137Cs) are the most widely used sources of gamma radiation.

Caesium atomic mass