17F

17F refers to the fluorine-17 isotope of the element fluorine. Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. 17F is a radioactive isotope, meaning its nucleus is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay. Specifically, 17F is a positron emitter. Positrons are antiparticles of electrons. When a positron is emitted from the nucleus of 17F, it annihilates with an electron in the surrounding material, producing gamma rays.

The half-life of 17F is approximately 64.5 seconds. This relatively short half-life means that 17F decays quickly and is not found in significant quantities naturally. It is produced artificially in laboratories, often through nuclear reactions. For example, it can be created by bombarding oxygen-18 with protons.

Due to its positron emission property, 17F has found applications in medical imaging, particularly in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. When incorporated into molecules that target specific biological processes, 17F can be used to visualize and study these processes in the body. Its short half-life is advantageous in PET imaging as it allows for rapid imaging and reduces the radiation dose to the patient. Researchers also study 17F to understand nuclear physics and the behavior of unstable isotopes.