potassium42

Potassium-42 is a radioactive isotope of the element potassium (Z = 19) with a mass number of 42. It has 19 protons and 23 neutrons. It is not observed in meaningful natural abundance and is produced primarily in laboratory or accelerator environments, such as through irradiation of suitable targets or in high-energy nuclear reactions.

Decay and properties: 42K decays by beta minus emission to calcium-42. The decay process releases an electron and an antineutrino, and may be accompanied by gamma radiation from the daughter nucleus depending on the specific decay pathway. The half-life of potassium-42 is relatively short, on the order of hours, which limits its use to controlled experimental settings.

Production: In practice, 42K is generated artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. Techniques include irradiation of potassium-containing targets or production as a fragment in high-energy collisions. In nature, any transient appearance of 42K from cosmogenic or other sources is negligible.

Applications: In scientific research, 42K is used as a radiotracer to study potassium transport in biological systems and as a calibration source for detectors in nuclear physics experiments. Its short half-life helps reduce long-term radiological burden in laboratory contexts.

Safety and handling: As a radioactive nuclide, 42K requires appropriate shielding, containment, and waste disposal in line with regulatory standards. Chemically, it behaves like potassium, so it can distribute with bodily potassium pools if released or ingested, underscoring the need for proper control in experiments.