Na24

Na-24 is a radioactive isotope of sodium with atomic number 11 and mass number 24. It is not found naturally and is produced artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. In reactors, it is generated when sodium-23 captures a neutron.

Na-24 has a half-life of about 14.96 hours. It decays by beta-minus emission to magnesium-24, and the decay is accompanied by gamma radiation. The beta decay is typically accompanied by prominent gamma rays with energies around 1.369 MeV and 2.754 MeV. The combination of beta and gamma emissions makes Na-24 detectable by radiometric techniques.

Production methods include neutron irradiation of stable Na-23, which can occur in research or power reactors. It can also be produced in accelerator facilities through spallation or other nuclear reactions involving sodium targets.

Applications of Na-24 are primarily in industry and research. It is used as a radiotracer to study fluid flow, diffusion, and leak testing in cooling circuits and other closed systems, owing to its well-defined gamma emissions and manageable half-life. It also serves in calibration and testing of gamma detectors and shielding effectiveness.

Safety considerations are important due to its gamma emission, which poses external radiation exposure risks. Handling requires appropriate shielding, containment, and regulatory controls. The relatively short half-life means activity declines substantially within a day or two, but controlled disposal and monitoring are still necessary. Na-24 provides a controllable, well-characterized source for irradiation and radiotracer applications in specialized settings.