Carbon-11

Carbon-11 is a radioisotope of carbon that is used in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. It has a very short half-life of approximately 20.334 minutes, which makes it useful for medical imaging but also requires it to be produced on-site at facilities with a cyclotron.

Production

Carbon-11 is produced in a cyclotron by the nuclear reaction of boron with protons. The reaction produces carbon-11 and a neutron. The carbon-11 is then used to produce radiopharmaceuticals that are used in PET scans.

Uses

The primary use of carbon-11 is in PET scans. These scans are used to image the body's metabolism and to diagnose and monitor various diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders. Carbon-11 is used to label certain types of molecules that are involved in these processes, allowing them to be visualized in the body.

In addition to its medical uses, carbon-11 is also used in research to study the biochemistry of living organisms. It can be used to label molecules in a way that allows their movement and interactions to be tracked.

Safety

Due to its radioactive nature, carbon-11 must be handled with care to prevent exposure. However, its short half-life means that it decays quickly, reducing the risk of long-term exposure. In medical settings, the amount of carbon-11 used is carefully controlled to minimize the risk to patients.

See also

• Radioisotope
• Positron emission tomography
• Cyclotron
• Half-life
• Radiopharmaceutical