cobalt 60

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a radioactive isotope of cobalt having a mass number of 60 and a half-life of 5.2 years, used chiefly in radiotherapy.

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cobalt 60 Cultural  

1. A radioactive isotope produced when neutrons bombard atoms of the element cobalt.

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Discover More

Cobalt 60 is a common substance used in radiation therapy for cancer.

Etymology

Origin of cobalt 60

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

To run the experiment she had in mind, Wu needed to reduce the temperature of radioactive cobalt 60 nuclei until the particles almost stopped moving.

From Scientific American • Mar. 16, 2023

In Colorado, for instance, 27 buildings house scary-sounding elements such as cesium 137, cobalt 60, americium 241 and iridium 192.

From Scientific American • Mar. 11, 2022

In mid-May, Mr. Watson ventured to the well site, where robotic submersibles were sent down to the seafloor with cobalt 60, a radioactive isotope that generates gamma rays.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2010

After enough of these free radicals had been formed, the cobalt 60 could be removed, and the reaction proceeded without further stimulation.

From Time Magazine Archive

Millions of cubic meters of toxic material, including pcbs and cobalt 60, were dumped in trenches and covered with soil.

From Time Magazine Archive