Strontium-90 facts for kids

Strontium 90 is a special kind of strontium. It is a radioactive element. This means it gives off energy as it changes over time. Strontium 90 is used in medicine and for making electricity.

What is Strontium 90?

Strontium 90 is a specific isotope of strontium. Think of isotopes as different versions of the same element. They have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Strontium 90 is known for being radioactive.

What is Half-Life?

Every radioactive element has something called a half-life. This is the time it takes for half of the radioactive material to break down. For Strontium 90, its half-life is about 29 years. This means after 29 years, half of the original Strontium 90 will have changed into something else. After another 29 years, half of what was left will also change, and so on.

How is Strontium 90 Used?

Strontium 90 has some important uses, especially in medicine and energy.

Strontium 90 in Medicine

Strontium 90 and another type called Strontium 89 are used in hospitals. They help treat certain illnesses. One main use is in radiation therapy. This is a treatment that uses radiation to help fight some types of bone cancer. The radiation from Strontium 90 can target and help destroy cancer cells.

Strontium 90 for Energy

When Strontium 90 decays, it creates a lot of heat. Because of this, it can be used as a heat source. Sometimes, it is used in nuclear power plants instead of Plutonium. This heat can then be used to generate electricity.

See also

In Spanish: Estroncio-90 para niños