radionuclide
Unstable emitting nucleus
A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus that releases energy through radioactive decay.
The term is used in nuclear physics, medicine, and environmental science: Radionuclides are used in cancer treatment.
Some occur naturally; others are produced in reactors or particle accelerators.
Also called radioactive isotope or radioisotope.
Elemental variant by mass
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
- atomic numberProton quantity per nucleus
isobar · isomer · nucleon · stable · unstable · abundance · ground state · metastable
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
- gammaGreek alphabet's third
- transmutationComplete change of form
daughter · emission · positron · neutron · proton · capture · activity · ionizing
Medicinal radioactive substance
- PETNuclear medicine imaging
- SPECTGamma-emitting radiotracer imaging method
- imagingProducing visual representations
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
therapy · oncology · technetium-99m · iodine-131 · brachytherapy · dosimetry · biodistribution
Controlled fission apparatus
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- thoriumActinide, atomic number ninety
criticality · breeder · spent fuel · reprocessing · transmutation · actinide · transuranium · power generation
Introduction of impurities
- exposureState of being unprotected
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- dosimeterExposure measurement device
- remRoot-based sizing unit
roentgen · containment · decontamination · waste disposal · glove box · lead shielding · regulatory · monitoring
Assigning identifying markers
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
uptake · biodistribution · kinetics · pathway · detection · carbon-14 · tritium · specific activity
Spiral-path particle accelerator
- generatorElectricity-producing machine
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
- targetObject of pursuit
- specific activityOne clearly identified action
isotope
Elemental variant by mass
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
atomic number · isobar · isomer · nucleon · stable · unstable · abundance · ground state · metastable · enrichment
half-life
Period for fifty-percent reduction
transmutation · daughter · emission · positron · neutron · proton · capture · activity · ionizing · spectrometry
radiopharmaceutical
Medicinal radioactive substance
- PETNuclear medicine imaging
- SPECTGamma-emitting radiotracer imaging method
- imagingProducing visual representations
diagnosis · therapy · oncology · technetium-99m · iodine-131 · brachytherapy · dosimetry · biodistribution
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
thorium · criticality · breeder · spent fuel · reprocessing · transmutation · actinide · transuranium · power generation
contamination
Introduction of impurities
rem · roentgen · containment · decontamination · waste disposal · glove box · lead shielding · regulatory · monitoring
labeling
Assigning identifying markers
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
metabolism · uptake · biodistribution · kinetics · pathway · detection · carbon-14 · tritium · specific activity · incorporation
cyclotron
Spiral-path particle accelerator
- generatorElectricity-producing machine
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
- targetObject of pursuit
specific activity · radiochemistry · separation · purification