Iron 59

Iron 59

What is it?

Iron 59 is a radioisotope

Physical properties

Ductile

Iron 59 can be bent into thin wires

Malleable

Iron 59 can be hammered into shape

- Melting Point: 1536 degrees Celsius

- Boiling point: 3000 degrees Celsius

- Density: 7.87 grams per cubic centimeter

Atomic Structure

- Half Life 44.5 days

- Mass number of 59

Benefits and Problems

Benefits

Medical:

• measure iron levels
• detect iron deficiency
• understand the processes in a patient's body

Metallurgical Research:

• Discover more about metal production and purification

Medical Use

Problems

• Iron 59 is used for medical issues
• It can be used to test iron levels

• Hepatitis - uses other people's blood
• Radiation exposure is dangerous. Can lead to:
• Leukemia as particles in air can remain active for a year

Other Facts...

Ferro-Kinetic Tests

• cost: $960 for one mci
• effect on environment
• Effect on plants

• tracer to study blood in humans
• injected into blood; shows whether red blood cells develop properly
• assist seeing whether healthy or not, diagnose anemia

Thanks for Watching

Decay and Production

Decay Equation

Decay:

Production Equations

Production:

• (Through Bombardment)

• (Through decay)

Production

Decay

- Iron 59 is a natural element

- Produced by Nuclear Bombardment or Radioactive Decay

- Iron 59 decays through Beta and Gamma radiations

- It then forms Cobalt 59, another isotope