bromine82

Bromine-82 is a radioactive isotope of bromine with the mass number 82. Its nucleus contains 35 protons and 47 neutrons. Bromine-82 is primarily produced through neutron activation of stable bromine isotopes, commonly bromine-81, in a nuclear reactor. This process involves bombarding bromine-81 with neutrons, which are then absorbed by the nucleus, increasing its mass number to 82.

The key characteristic of bromine-82 is its radioactivity. It decays primarily through beta decay, transforming into stable selenium-82. This decay process emits beta particles (electrons) and antineutrinos. Bromine-82 also has a relatively short half-life, typically around 35.3 hours. This means that after this period, half of the initial amount of bromine-82 will have decayed.

Due to its radioactive properties and the ease of its production, bromine-82 has found applications in various fields. In medicine, it has been used as a radiotracer for imaging and diagnostic procedures, particularly in studies related to organ function and blood flow. Its ability to emit detectable radiation allows medical professionals to track its movement within the body. Furthermore, bromine-82 has been employed in research settings as a tracer in environmental studies and in the investigation of chemical reaction mechanisms. The short half-life is advantageous in these applications as it minimizes long-term radioactive contamination.