Questions on Nuclear medicine

1. Technetium-99m is generated in a hospital from molybdenum-99. The half-life of technetium-99m is 6.01 hours. It decays to technetium-99 by emitting gamma radiation. The technetium-99 then decays to ruthenium-99.

(a) Deduce the nuclear equation for the formation of technetium-99m from molybdenum-99.

(b) If the mass of technetium-99m generated in the hospital at 0800 in the morning is 10.0 mg determine the mass of technetium-99m that will be remaining when it is required for a diagnostic investigation at 1230 in the afternoon?

(c) State three reasons why technetium-99m is commonly used as a radioisotope in diagnostic medicine.

(d) Deduce the nuclear equation for the radioactive decay of technetium-99 to form ruthenium-99.

2. (a) Deduce the nuclear equation for the reaction of boron-10 with a neutron to release an alpha particle.

(b) Outline how BNCT (boron neutron capture therapy) works.

(c) Explain why BNCT is particularly suited to target some brain tumours.

3. (a) List three common side effects of radiotherapy.

(b) Explain why the use of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) poses virtually no risk to the patient.

4.  Lead-212 initially decomposes by beta emission to give bismuth-212 which then rapidly
    decomposes by alpha-emission to give Tl-208. The alpha emissions are used in TAT (targeted
    alpha therapy).

(a) Deduce the nuclear equations for the radioactive decay of lead-212 to Tl-208.

(b) The half-life of lead-212 is 10.64 hours. Calculate the percentage of lead-12 remaining in a sample after exactly two days has elapsed.

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