Question

Which do you think would be the greater health hazard: the release of a radioactive nuclide of Sr or a radioactive nuclide of Xe into the environment? Assume the amount of radioactivity is the same in each case. Explain your answer on the basis of the chemical properties of \(\mathrm{Sr}\) and Xe. Why are the chemical properties of a radioactive substance important in assessing its potential health hazards?

Short answer

The release of a radioactive nuclide of Strontium (Sr) would pose a greater health hazard than that of Xenon (Xe). Sr is chemically reactive and has biological importance, being able to accumulate in living organisms, specifically in the human body where it can replace calcium and emit ionizing radiation, causing damage to bone tissues and nearby cells. Xe, being a noble gas, is chemically inert and has no known biological activity, making it less likely to enter, interact with, or accumulate in living organisms, and therefore less likely to cause harm. Chemical properties are crucial for assessing potential health hazards, as they determine how a radioactive substance interacts with its environment and living organisms.

Step-by-step solution

Overview of Strontium and Xenon Chemical Properties

Strontium (Sr) is an alkaline earth metal, which is a group 2 element in the periodic table. It is chemically very reactive and forms a wide range of compounds with other elements. Sr is also known to have biological importance, as it can be absorbed and utilized in biological systems, such as the human body. Its chemical behavior is similar to calcium (Ca), hence it can easily replace Ca in many biological processes. On the other hand, Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas, which is a group 18 element in the periodic table. It is chemically inert, meaning it is very stable and rarely forms compounds with other elements. As a result, Xe has little to no biological activity and doesn't interact with or affect biological processes in living organisms.

Chemical Properties Related to Health Hazards

The chemical properties of Sr make it more likely to enter, interact with, and accumulate in living organisms, as it can easily form compounds and participate in biological processes, specifically in the human body. When Sr nuclides enter the human body – for example, via ingestion or inhalation – they can be absorbed and integrated into bones, replacing calcium. The radioactive Sr nuclides can then emit ionizing radiation, potentially causing damage to the bone tissues and nearby cells, leading or contributing to various health problems. On the contrary, Xe, being a chemically inert, non-reactive gas, will not form compounds with other elements and has no known biological activity in living organisms. When radioactive Xe nuclides are released into the environment, they are less likely to enter, interact with, or accumulate in living organisms. Even if Xe nuclides enter the human body – for example, as a result of inhalation – they will not chemically interact with tissues or cell components and will likely be exhaled soon without causing significant harm.

Comparing Potential Health Hazards

Considering the chemical properties of Sr and Xe, we can conclude that the release of a radioactive nuclide of Sr poses a more significant health hazard compared to a radioactive nuclide of Xe. This is because Sr can chemically interact with biological processes and accumulate in living organisms, particularly in the human body, whereas Xe is chemically inert and less likely to cause any harm due to its non-reactive nature.

Importance of Chemical Properties for Assessing Health Hazards

The chemical properties of a radioactive substance are crucial for assessing its potential health hazards because they determine how the substance will interact with its environment, specifically with living organisms. By examining the reactivity, bonding characteristics, and biological activity of a radioactive substance, we can better predict its behavior in the environment and potential impact on health. For instance, a reactive substance that forms compounds easily is more likely to enter and accumulate in living organisms than a stable, inert substance. This means that the reactive substance poses a greater risk to living organisms, as its emitted ionizing radiation is more likely to cause damage to biological tissues and cells.