Technetium is a synthetic, radioactive element with atomic number 43 that resembles platinum. It is used in medical imaging and as a catalyst in chemistry. Technetium is produced as a byproduct of nuclear fission and can be dangerous if not handled properly. It enters the environment through nuclear waste and emissions and can cause health problems in high concentrations.
Technetium is a metallic chemical element that does not appear in nature because it has no stable isotopes. It has the particularity of being the first synthetically produced element, after a long experimentation by scientists who predicted its presence based on the order of the periodic table of elements. Consumers generally do not interact with technetium, as it is radioactive, although it is used as a radioactive tracer for some medical tests, so people with certain diseases may be familiar with it.
In appearance, technetium almost resembles platinum, with a lustrous silvery gray color. In moist air, the element oxidizes slowly and must be handled with care due to its radioactivity. Technetium will also dissolve in some substances, such as nitric or sulfuric acid. It is identified on the periodic table with the symbol Tc, and has atomic number 43, placing it between molybdenum and ruthenium.
The history of the element is quite complex. The existence of technetium was first hypothesized by Dmitri Mendelev, who noticed a gap in the periodic table which he assumed would be filled by a yet unknown element. Throughout the 1800s chemists found a number of substances they proposed as the missing element, but these turned out to be impure forms of other elements. Finally, in 1937, Carlo Perrier and Emilio Segre produced technetium in their laboratory by bombarding molybdenum in a cyclotron. The new element was named technetium in honor of the technology that facilitated the discovery.
Most of the world’s technetium is produced as a byproduct of nuclear fission and tends to be expensive. The element is used in chemistry as a catalyst for a variety of reactions, and is also employed in nuclear medicine. Some scientists also believe it could be used as an additive in metal alloys to help metals resist corrosion. Access to technetium is generally controlled, as the element is radioactive and therefore potentially dangerous in the hands of the untrained.
Small amounts of technetium enter the environment through the detonation of nuclear weapons, improper disposal of medical waste, and emissions from nuclear facilities. People can absorb the element through air and water, which could cause health problems in high concentrations. Most technetium appears to be expressed by the body, which is why it can be safely used in medical imaging. Specialized tests can be done to look for technetium exposure in people who may be at higher risk.
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