cobalt 60

cobalt

 (Co) [ko´bawlt]

a chemical element, atomic number 27, atomic weight 58.933. (See Appendix 6.)

cobalt 57 a radioisotope of cobalt, atomic mass 57, having a half-life of 270 days; used as a label for cyanocobalamin. Symbol ⁵⁷Co.

cobalt 60 a radioisotope of cobalt, atomic mass 60, having a half-life of 5.27 years and a principal gamma ray energy of 1.33 MeV; used as a radiation therapy source. Symbol ⁶⁰Co.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

co·balt 60 (⁶⁰Co),

(kō'bawlt),

Half-life, 5.271 years; emits beta particles and energetic gamma rays, for which reason it is used in radiation teletherapy and diagnostics in place of radium, radon, or x-rays. It is also used as a diagnostic aid in the evaluation of vitamin B12 absorption.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

co·balt 60

(kō'bawlt)

Radioactive isotope created by irradiating stable ⁵⁹Co with neutrons in a reactor; has a mass number of 60; half-life 5.3 years; used in teletherapy and brachytherapy; emits beta particles and gamma-rays.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012