Technetium

Technetium
Properties
Atomic symbol	Tc
Atomic number	43
Classification	Metallic
Atomic mass	97 amu
Number of Stable Isotopes	0
Other Information
Date of discovery	1937
Name of discoverer	Carlo Perrier and Emillo G. Segre
Name origin	from the Greek tekhnetos, meaning artificial.
Uses	Source of radiation for medical research.
Obtained from	Manufactured by bombarding Molybdenum with heavy hydrogen in a cyclotron. Only minute quantities have been found outside the laboratory, as a by-product of the fission of Uranium-238.

Technetium (tek-NEE-she-em) is a radioactive, silvery-grey synthetic metal.

Additional Properties

Melting Point: 3915 °F (2157 °C or 2430 K)

Boiling Point: 7709 °F (4265 °C or 4538 K)

Density: 11 grams per cubic centimeter

(Beta) Half-Life: 4.2 million years

History

In 1937, the Italian chemists Carlo Perrier and Emilio Segrè isolated Technetium using a cyclotron; it was the first artificially produced (synthetic) element. Since this element has such a short half-life, it cannot be found in nature. Before this time, it had been predicted but never found.

Uses

The primary use of Technetium is for medical exploration as a tracer. It can also be added to steel for corrosion resistance. This not usually practical, however, since it is a radioactive material.

External Resources

http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/43/technetium