scandium48

Scandium-48 is a radioactive isotope of scandium. It has a mass number of 48. Scandium-48 is produced through nuclear reactions, often as a byproduct of neutron activation of scandium-47 or by bombarding calcium-48 with protons. Its primary decay mode is beta decay, transforming into titanium-48. The half-life of scandium-48 is approximately 43.7 minutes. This relatively short half-life makes it suitable for certain applications where a short-lived radioisotope is needed. Scandium-48 has been investigated for use in medical imaging, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET), due to its positron emission. However, its clinical application is limited by factors such as production challenges and availability. Research into its properties and potential uses continues in nuclear physics and radiochemistry. The energy of the emitted beta particles and gamma rays are characteristic of this isotope and are important for its detection and quantification.