How do medical professionals use radiation without doing more harm than good? Budding nuclear chemists begin their study of all things radioactive with a video from the JFR Science playlist. Topics include differences between isotopes, radioisotopes versus non-radioactive isotopes, and how people use radioisotopes in medical imaging.

Concepts

isotopes, radioactive isotopes, the nucleus, atomic mass number, atomic numbers, neutrons, radioactivity, radioactive decay, half lives

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

science

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Show the video at the start of a nuclear chemistry unit
• Keep learners interested with a further study of carbon dating using a fun interactive
  

Classroom Considerations

• Take a moment to review the basics of atomic number, atomic mass, protons, and neutrons before starting the video
  

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Links isotopes to their uses in medicine, which keeps engagement high
• Illustrations help clarify the differences between isotopes
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2