Homonym: cobalt-60 (Radioisotope)
Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope of the element cobalt. It is produced in nuclear reactors by irradiating cobalt-59 with neutrons. Cobalt-60 emits gamma rays, which are high-energy electromagnetic radiation, making it useful in various applications, particularly in medicine and industry.
In medicine, cobalt-60 is commonly used in radiation therapy to treat cancer, as its gamma rays can target and destroy cancerous cells. In industry, it is employed for radiation sterilization of medical equipment and in radiography to inspect welds and materials for structural integrity.