Palladium-103

Palladium-103 (Pd-103) is a radioactive isotope of palladium, a chemical element with the symbol Pd and atomic number 46. It is used in brachytherapy, a form of radiation therapy for treating cancer.

Physical properties

Palladium-103 is a beta emitter with a half-life of 17 days. It decays into rhodium-103 by beta decay, releasing a beta particle with a maximum energy of 21 keV.

Medical use

In medicine, Pd-103 is used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. It is used in a procedure known as brachytherapy, where small radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the tumor. The short half-life of Pd-103 means that the radiation dose is delivered over a relatively short period of time.

Production

Palladium-103 is produced in a nuclear reactor by neutron bombardment of rhodium-102. The rhodium-102 absorbs a neutron to become rhodium-103, which then decays to palladium-103.

Safety

As with all radioactive materials, care must be taken when handling Pd-103 to avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. The short half-life of Pd-103 means that it decays relatively quickly, reducing the risk of long-term exposure.

See also

• Brachytherapy
• Radioactive isotope
• Radiation therapy
• Prostate cancer