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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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

Given all that, replacing cobalt 60 machines does not always go well.

From Scientific American

The cobalt 60 was found several hundred feet from the truck, apparently carried off by the thieves or by curious people in the area.

From New York Times

After a two-day hunt, a stolen truck containing the lethal radioactive material cobalt 60 was found in the rural Mexican town of Hueypoxtla.

From Time

At the time of the theft, the agency said, the cobalt 60 had been properly shielded from exposure.

From New York Times