Question

Decay producing 137Ba is a major waste product of reactors and has chemistry similar to potassium and sodium, resulting in its concentration in your cells if ingested. (True/False)

Answer 1

The statement that decay producing 137Ba can result in its concentration in cells if ingested due to its chemical similarity to potassium and sodium is true. Barium can mimic these elements and therefore become concentrated in human cells, posing a health risk due to the radiation it emits.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement saying that decay producing 137Ba being a major waste product of reactors with chemistry similar to potassium and sodium is true. Barium-137 (137Ba) is indeed a product of nuclear reactions, such as those occurring in nuclear reactors. As barium has similar properties to potassium and sodium, it can mimic these elements and be taken up by cells if ingested, becoming concentrated within them.

This resemblance in chemistry is due to their placement in the periodic table; barium is in the same group as calcium and shares chemical properties with other alkali metals including sodium and potassium. For example, the fission of uranium-235 (U-235) in nuclear reactors can lead to the production of barium-141 (141Ba) as one of the fission products, which further undergoes radioactive decay to give 137Ba. The health risk associated with 137Ba is due to its potential to replace potassium or sodium in biological processes, hence it can result in radiation damage to cells if accumulated in the body.