Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Indium-115

Romix - 3-4-2020 at 21:10

Hello Dear forum members,
Wikipedia says that natural indium have only two isotopes, of which Indium-115 makes up 95.7%. And 115In beta decaying.
I storing half a kilogram of indium underneath my bed where I sleep. Can it do any harm to my health? I left Geiger counter on an ingot and it showed normal readings.

Texium - 4-4-2020 at 08:05

You have nothing to worry about. Similarly to bismuth, the half life of indium-115 is several orders of magnitude greater than the age of the universe! In other words, you’re being bombarded by far more radiation daily from cosmic rays than you’d be even if your whole room was made of indium. It’s insignificant.

Romix - 4-4-2020 at 08:21

Quote: Originally posted by Texium (zts16)  
You have nothing to worry about. Similarly to bismuth, the half life of indium-115 is several orders of magnitude greater than the age of the universe! In other words, you’re being bombarded by far more radiation daily from cosmic rays than you’d be even if your whole room was made of indium. It’s insignificant.

Ok, thanks.

Herr Haber - 4-4-2020 at 13:02

Though I havent boiled pee for about 30 years I've had this "concern" too.

I have a wooden ammo crate were I almost all elements from the periodic table that dont need special care.

My indium ingots measured 15 cpm (ambiant here is 15-20), but when I tossed the counter in the box among the ampoules, baggies, bare metals etc. I got an interesting 34.

I found that after testing most of my uranium glass and didnt investigate further but I should.

A very small glass vase gave me 406cpm. Maybe the flowers can glow in the dark ?

Romix - 22-8-2023 at 19:37

Is it true that Russian Dosimeter's with window like on a picture below able to read very weak Beta radiation.
Dosimeter's with just Geiger's tube in it, simply can't!!!
That's what I got told guys.


347645343_3401607336759103_5511004395123502616_n.jpg - 53kB

[Edited on 23-8-2023 by Romix]