What is Technetium

A radioactive metal, technetium (pronounced as tek-NEE-she-em) is the first synthetically produced element. Denoted by the chemical symbol Tc, it belongs to the family of transition metals ^[1].

History

Origin of its Name: The name of the element is derived from the Greek word ‘tekhnetos’ which means artificial ^[1].

Who Discovered it: Carlo Perrier and Emilio Segre ^[1]

When and Where was it Discovered

In the 1920’s, there were claims about its discovery through spectrum analysis. However, nothing was officially confirmed.

In 1937, when Segre in Italy analyzed a molybdenum sample from California that had been subjected to powerful radiation, he isolated a new element that was later named ‘technetium’ from it ^[1].

Identification
Atomic number	43 [1]
CAS number	7440-26-8 [1]
Position in the periodic table [1]	Group	Period	Block
	7	5	d

Properties and Characteristics of Technetium

General Properties
Relative atomic mass	[98] [1]
Atomic mass	98 atomic mass units [4]
Physical Properties
Color/appearance	Silver [1]
Melting point/freezing point	2157°C (3915°F) [1]
Boiling point	4262°C, 7704°F [1]
Density	11 g/cm3 [1]
State at standard room temperature (solid/liquid/gas)	Solid [1]
Chemical Properties
Oxidation state/Oxidation number		−3, −1, +1, +2, +3, +4 +5, +6, +7 [1]

Atomic Data of Technetium (Element 43)

What are the Uses of Technetium

• It is added to steel in minor amounts to inhibit corrosion and provide protection from long-term damage ^[1].
• Technetium-99m, a short-lived isotope of technetium-99 (a byproduct of nuclear weapon explosions) is used as a diagnostic imaging tool for carrying out a sestamibi scan of different parts of the body ^[1]. Intravenous administration of a gamma-emitting colloid called technetium Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid is done to scan the gastrointestinal system, including liver and spleen ^[5]. When combined with tetrofosmin, technetium Tc-99m is useful in cardiac imaging after a stress test^[6].
• In hospital and radiopharmacies, technetium tc-99 generators are used to extract medical isotopes ^{[7, 8]}.
• Technetium pertechnetate is more effective than radioactive iodine in detecting thyroid abnormalities ^[9].

Interesting Facts

• The symbol of the element is depicted by human hand to show that it’s artificially produced ^[1].

Technetium Cost

Although a radioactive and man-made element, it is commercially available, costing anywhere between $60 and $70 per gram.

References
1. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/43/technetium
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele043.html
3. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/technetium#section=Top
4. http://hobart.k12.in.us/ksms/PeriodicTable/technetium.htm
5. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/76957057#section=Top
6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/technetium-tc-99m-tetrofosmin-injection-route/description/drg-20122638
7. http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2012/01/15/technetium-99m-generators/
8. http://www.lantheus.com/products/overview/technelite/
9. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/august/thyroid-scans/