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Radioactive cobalt-60 is used in radiation therapy treatment. Cobalt-60 undergoes beta decay. This type of nuclear reaction is called
(1) natural transmutation
(2) artificial transmutation
(3) nuclear fusion
(4) nuclear fission


Sagot :

The answer is (1) natural transmutation. When Co-60 undergoes beta decay (be it beta positive or beta negative), the product is another element (Fe or Ni). Transmutation is when an element turns into another element via a nuclear process. Since this occurs without the aid of another agent that causes the nuclear change (e.g. a neutron source), it is natural transmutation.