Bi238

Bi-238 is a radioactive isotope of the element bismuth (atomic number 83) with a mass number of 238. It is not naturally abundant and must be produced in nuclear facilities. Bi-238 is typically created by irradiation of heavy targets in nuclear reactors or by spallation processes in accelerators, followed by chemical separation and radiochemical purification to isolate the isotope.

In terms of decay, Bi-238 decays by beta minus emission to polonium-238. Its half-life is short, on the order of days, so its activity decreases relatively quickly and it is used only in controlled laboratory settings. The decay process may be accompanied by gamma radiation depending on the exact decay scheme, and the daughter product Po-238 is an alpha emitter with its own radiological characteristics.

Applications and handling of Bi-238 are largely restricted to research contexts. It functions as a tracer or calibration source in nuclear physics and radiochemistry experiments, as well as a test source for detector response. Because Bi-238 is synthetic and short-lived, it is typically available only from specialized facilities under strict radiological controls.

Safety and regulation are important considerations. Handling requires appropriate shielding and containment due to beta and potential gamma emissions, as well as measures to manage any radioactive daughter products and prevent contamination.

See also: Bi-209, other bismuth isotopes, radiotracers.