Question

What are the important precaution that should be taken while handling radioactive materials?

Answer 1

Understanding the concept:

• Chemicals in the class of radionuclides (also known as radioactive materials) like uranium ($\mathrm{U}$), and barium ($\mathrm{Ba}$) have unstable atomic nuclei.
• They stabilize themselves by altering the nucleus in various ways.
• They undergo emission of alpha particles, or conversion of neutrons to protons (or the reverse), and spontaneous fission.

Important precautions that should be taken while handling radioactive materials:

• Wear disposable clothes if there is a substantial contamination risk.
• Keep your lab coat separate from your everyday attire.
• Always use gloves when working with radioactive materials.
• When handling radioactive materials, stringent hygiene is required.
• In radioactive labs, it is not permitted to eat, drink, smoke, or use cosmetics.
• Do not ever pipette orally. Instead, use pipetting equipment.
• Always keep radioactive and non-radioactive activity apart.
• Use the proper radiation protection.
• After taking the required amount out of the stock solution, put it back in storage right away