europium153

Europium-153 is a radioactive isotope of europium. Its nucleus contains 63 protons and 90 neutrons. Europium-153 is a stable isotope, meaning it does not undergo radioactive decay. It is the only stable isotope of europium. This isotope is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth's crust.

Europium-153 has several significant applications, primarily in medicine and industry. In nuclear medicine, it is used to produce the radioisotope europium-152m, which is employed in diagnostic imaging techniques. More commonly, europium-153 itself is used as a radioactive tracer and in brachytherapy treatments. It is the source of the beta particle and gamma ray emitted by the radiopharmaceutical samarium-153, which is used to treat certain types of cancer, particularly bone cancer, by targeting and destroying cancerous cells.

Industrially, europium-153 can be used in certain types of gauges and detectors due to its radioactive properties. Its presence in various minerals and its specific spectral emissions also make it useful in analytical chemistry and materials science for characterization purposes. The production of europium-153 typically involves neutron activation of stable europium isotopes in nuclear reactors. It is an important component in the production of various radiopharmaceuticals used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in healthcare.