technetium [Tc]

Introduction

From the Greek technetos meaning artificial. Discovered in 1937 by Carolo Perrier & Emilio Segre The 1st artificially-produced element.

Occurrence

• obtained by bombarding molybdenum with deutrons or neutrons & in the fission of uranium
• found in the spectrum of S-, M & N-type stars
• all Tc on earth is artificially produced

Characteristics

• silver-gray metal
• radioactive
• tarnishes slowly in moist air
• Tc-99 emits gamma radiation

Uses

• Tc-99 is used medical imaging
  • with sestamibi in myocardial perfusion studies
  • bone scans
• calibraton of particle detectors

More general terms

• radioactive element
• metal

More specific terms

• technetium 99m ([99m]Tc)

Additional terms

• periodic table
• scintigraphy (radionuclide test)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23957