Final answer:
Isotopes are used in medicine for diagnostics and treatment, such as identifying damaged tissue and monitoring thyroid conditions. They're also utilized in industry to track substances and analyze geological formations. Radioactive tracers in isotopes emit detectable radiation, making them useful for a variety of applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Isotopes can be used in a variety of ways due to their radioactive properties. Two primary uses are in medicine and in industry. In medicine, radioisotopes are used for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, with isotopes such as technetium-99 used to detect damaged heart tissue, iodine-131 for monitoring thyroid conditions, and thallium-201 for identifying healthy heart tissue. In industry, radioactive tracers can help in analyzing geological formations around oil wells or in measuring engine wear.
Nuclear medicine tests harness the power of radioisotopes to diagnose and treat conditions, making use of their ability to emit detectable radiation. Compounds containing radioisotopes, known as radioactive tracers, track the movement of these substances through various reactions or within an organism, providing valuable information for healthcare and engineering applications.