b>Technetium (Tc-99m) is an isotope commonly
used in a number of medical diagnostic imaging scans. Tc99m is
used as a radioactive tracer for nuclear medicine; which is a form of medical imaging that assesses how particular parts of our body are working or functioning.
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In overall, where is technetium found in nature?
Occurrence in nature Some scientists believe that technetium will be found in very small amounts in the Earth's crust along with other radioactive materials, such as uranium and radium. However, it has never been found on Earth. It has, however, been found in certain types of stars.
In spite of everything, is technetium a metal? Technetium is a silvery-gray metal that tarnishes slowly in moist air. The common oxidation states of technetium are +7, +5, and +4. ... All the isotopes of technetium are radioactive. It is one of two elements with Z < 83 that have no stable isotopes; the other element is promethium (Z = 61).
Otherwise, what family does technetium belong to?
Group 7
Why is technetium dangerous?
The low energy of the beta particle, the lack of significant gamma or X-rays, and the rapid excretion of technetium-99m from the body limit the potential for health effects.
14 Related Questions Answered
If you spent all day wearing it as a hat – or breathed it in as dust – it could definitely kill you.”2 One of the defining characteristics of technetium is that it is the lightest element with no stable isotopes.
Technetium occurs naturally in the Earth's crust in minute concentrations of about 0.003 parts per trillion. Technetium is so rare because the half-lives of 97Tc and 98Tc are only 4.2 million years.
Technetium is the lightest radioactive element on the periodic table and its isotopes decay into a variety of other elements including stable ruthenium. ... The big advantage of technetium-99m (half-life six hours) is that it is produced by decay from the much longer lived isotope molybdenum-99 (half-life 67 hours).
Technetium has no biological role. Technetium does not occur naturally in the biosphere and so normally never presents a risk. All technetium compounds should be regarded as highly toxic, largely because of its radiological toxicity.
Abstract. Technetium-99 may be reappraised for a host of potential uses, both military and civilian, in the light of a drastic price cut just announced by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Under the revised schedule, Tc 99' s price drops from the $1600 to $2800 a gram range (depending on quantity) to just $100 a gram.
Technetium-99m is a short-lived form of Tc-99 that is used as a medical diagnostic tool. It has a short half-life (6 hours) and does not remain in the body or the environment for long. Half-lifeThe time required for half of the radioactive atoms present to decay or transform.
Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus are the most abundant elements found in the human body, followed by potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.
The name is from the Greek word for artificial, since technetium was the very first man-made element, yet despite the name, technetium is found naturally albeit in tiny traces.
: a radioactive metallic element obtained especially from nuclear fuel as a product of uranium fission and used as a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical — see Chemical Elements Table.
Physical Properties
Atomic number43
| Melting point, °C | 2,250 ± 50 |
| Density, g/cm3 | 11.47 |
| Crystal structure | Hexagonal close-packed |
| Lattice dimensions at 25°C, pm | a = 274.07 |
Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Very bad dizziness or passing out.
Benefits of Technetium-99m- Examines the metabolic process without significant harm to the patient.
- Allows rapid diagnosis.
- Non-invasive diagnostic procedures on the heart, brain, kidneys and thyroid, that would not be otherwise possible.
- Radiation treatment of cancers.
Tc-99m is used primarily as a medical diagnostic tool, and it can be found as a component of industrial and institutional wastes from hospitals and research laboratories.. Tc-99 is retained and does not have high mobility. Under aerobic conditions, technetium compounds in soils are readily transferred to plants.
The 66 hours molybdenum radioactive half-life give enough time to transport it to hospitals and to extract chemically technetium 99m. The radioisotople placed in a radiopharmaceutical serum is then injected into the patient, which allows gamma camera scans providing accurate pictures of the patient's body.