Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
cobalt-60

cobalt-60

1 7.5
A radioactive metal that gives strong gamma rays used to treat cancer and sterilize equipment
  • noun
  • /ˈkoʊbɔlt ˈsɪksti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cobalto-60
  • The FDA presently supports and actively promotes the use of cobalt-60 culled from nuclear reactors as a form of "electronic pasteurization" on all domestically produced conventional food.

Examples

  • In many hospitals, cobalt-60 is utilized for its effective radiation properties to target tumor cells during treatments.

  • Another side effect of the use of cobalt-60 is the way the stuff is starting to turn up where it shouldn't.

    Blog text (18)

  • Cobalt-60 in scrap metal closed a port in Italy as international businesses that used it in medical applications have let it find its way into recycling streams.

    Blog text (18)

  • I have less confidence in ours, even though DHS did find cobalt-60 contaminated decorative Kleenex boxes.

    Blog text (18)

  • High-activity isotopes for medical applications include cesium-137, cobalt-60, iridium-192, and strontium-90.

    Academic text (2012)

  • And other attendees identified several radionuclides of particular concern: cobalt-60, strontium-90, cesium-137, iridium-192, plutonium-238 and -239, and americium-241.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Cobalt-60 is widely used as a source of gamma rays in radiation therapy and various industrial applications.

  • The radioactive isotope cobalt-60 is employed in cancer treatment due to its ability to emit intense gamma radiation.

Surface Forms

cobalt-60 singular
cobalt-60s plural

Morphology

cobalt-60 = cobalt (semi-transparent) = cobalt + 60

The orthographic composition 'cobalt' + '60' is clear, but interpreting this as a radioactive isotope with specific properties requires domain-specific scientific knowledge.

Etymology

Cobalt-60 begins with cobalt, the name of a blue metal, which comes from the old German word Kobold meaning 'goblin' because miners found the ore tricky and harmful. The -60 part shows this is a special form with the number '60' that gives strong radioactive rays used in medicine and industry, so cobalt-60 is the radioactive version of cobalt.