Cobalt-60 is hard, brittle and has a bluish tint. Its properties are similar to that of iron and nickel and remains in solid state in normal conditions.
It can be magnetized just like iron. It is radioactive; its nucleus can break apart and give off radiation. For this reason, it is used in radiotherapy in hospitals. It is also used in some medical devices for the precise treatment of deformities of blood vessels and brain tumours that cannot be operated upon. It is useful in the sterilization of medical equipment too.
Certain food products including spices are often sterilized using cobalt-60. The powerful gamma rays kill bacteria without damaging the product or making it radioactive.
Do you know that radiography is used to detect the flaws of structures and equipment made of metals? This process is known as industrial radiography; cobalt-60 is used for this as well.
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