Cobalt-60 is commonly used in radiation therapy because it emits gamma rays.

Cobalt-60 (Co-60) is a radioactive isotope of cobalt with a half-life of about 5.26 years. It undergoes radioactive decay, emitting high-energy gamma rays during the process. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to X-rays but with higher energy. They have the ability to penetrate matter deeply, making them effective for medical applications such as radiation therapy.

In radiation therapy, cobalt-60 is used as a source of gamma radiation to treat cancerous tumors. The high-energy gamma rays emitted by cobalt-60 can penetrate the body and target cancer cells, damaging their DNA and inhibiting their ability to grow and divide. The controlled use of cobalt-60 radiation allows for precise targeting of tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

It`s important to note that cobalt-60 does not emit alpha or beta particles. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons and are emitted during certain types of radioactive decay. Beta particles are high-energy electrons or positrons emitted during beta decay. Cobalt-60 primarily emits gamma rays, which are photons of electromagnetic radiation.