MESOTHORIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Mesothorium is a term used to describe a radioactive element that belongs to the actinide series of elements. Specifically, it refers to two isotopes of thorium: thorium-228 and thorium-229. These isotopes are naturally occurring and have unique properties and uses.
Thorium-228, also known as mesothorium-228 or simply Th-228, is a radioactive isotope with a half-life of about 1.9 years. It undergoes radioactive decay to produce actinium-228, a highly unstable isotope. Mesothorium-228 has been historically used for medical purposes, particularly in radiation therapy to treat various forms of cancer due to its ability to emit alpha particles.
Thorium-229 or mesothorium-229 has a half-life of approximately 7,340 years. It decays to yield actinium-225, which also possesses therapeutic applications in targeted cancer treatments.
Both isotopes of mesothorium have gained prominence due to their ability to emit radiation that can be harnessed for medical treatments. However, due to their radioactivity, proper handling and containment procedures are essential to prevent any harmful exposure.
Given their limited availability and potential health risks associated with radioactivity, mesothorium isotopes are primarily used in specialized medical settings for specific therapeutic purposes. Overall, mesothorium represents a subgroup within the broader classification of thorium isotopes that have unique properties and applications in the field of nuclear medicine.
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The disintegration product of thorium; m. 1. is rayless, but m. 2, the next step in the process of disintegration, gives off beta and gamma rays; its disintegration product is radiothorium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MESOTHORIUM
- nesothorium
- kesothorium
- jesothorium
- mwsothorium
- mssothorium
- mdsothorium
- mrsothorium
- m4sothorium
- m3sothorium
- meaothorium
- mezothorium
- mexothorium
- medothorium
- meeothorium
- mewothorium
- mesithorium
- meskthorium
- meslthorium
- mespthorium
- mes0thorium
Etymology of MESOTHORIUM
The word "Mesothorium" is a compound term derived from two Greek roots: "meso" meaning "middle" or "half" and "thorium" referring to the radioactive chemical element thorium. The term was coined in the early 20th century by physicists and chemists to describe a radioactive isotope of thorium, specifically thorium-228, which has a half-life of approximately 1.9 years. The prefix "meso" is used to denote an intermediate position between two extremes, indicating a shorter half-life compared to other isotopes of thorium.
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