Danielle Mickens

01/06/14
Period 7

MYP Chemistry Assignment

It all began in 1935 when Enrico Fermi discovered that stable elements are able to be
made radioactive when they are filled with neutrons. Thus, they are in a new nuclear form yet
remained the same element. This is used in nuclear medicine which is medical imaging that uses
radioactive materials to treat and diagnose a large variety of diseases. These procedures that
radiologists perform visualize the structure and function of a tissue, organ, or system within the
body in order to give a diagnosis to a patient.
There are many pros and cons to the use of nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine scans
give extremely useful information need to make a diagnosis and give the patient the right
treatment. It is able to identify disease at the earliest state before things become permanent or
fatal. Yet, the exposure to the radiation from these nuclear scans can lead to long term effects.
Allergic reactions from the radioactive material might occur as well.
Nuclear medicine can be used in a highly destructive manner. The radiation if given in a
large amount will cause fatal results. Terrorists could try to use this new development for mass
destruction. In the first letter Albert Einstein sent to President Roosevelt, he mentioned that the
recent work of Enrico Fermi lead him to believe that the element uranium may be turned into a
new and important source of energy. He warned him to keep a watchful eye on the matter and to

be prepared to take quick action. Albert Einstein knew that nuclear science was a dangerous
subject and can be used in a very wrong way.
This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivablethough much less certain- that extremely powerful bomb may thus be constructed. Albert
Einstein
I for one thing find that nuclear medicine is a very amazing new discovery. In its way
that it helps find the diagnosis and treatments for many diseases, it has impacted our society in
such a great deal. Even though it has its cons like many resources in our world do, it has greatly
helped save the lives of many people. Nuclear medicine is less expensive and can give more
precise readings than exploratory surgeries. Many things are created in our society are
intentionally made to be used as a good thing but some people find a way to use it against
society. The impact of the nuclear science on medical research has more pros than cons. I believe
that the science of nuclear medicine is a great discovery.
Works Cited
"About Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging." Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular
Imaging. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.snmmi.org/AboutSNMMI/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=6433>.
Einstein, Albert. "Einstein's First Letter to Roosevelt." Text of the Letters. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.
Print.
"New Tracking of a Patient's Radiation Exposure." Pro Quest SIRS. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.
<http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMD0990-0531&artno=0000352541&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=nuclear%20medicine&title=New

%20Tracking%20of%20a%20Patient%27s%20Radiation
%20Exposure&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=N>.
"Nuclear Medicine." Britannica School. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.
<http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/56444>.