What is the half-life of Gold-198?

The half-life of Gold-198 is 2.7 days, making it significant in the context of radiation therapy, particularly in brachytherapy for cancer treatment. Gold-198 is a radioisotope that emits beta particles and gamma radiation, which can be used to target tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Understanding the half-life is essential because it influences the duration of radiation exposure and its therapeutic effectiveness. A shorter half-life means that the isotope will decay quickly, providing a concentrated dose of radiation in a brief period which can be ideal for certain types of tumors. In practical terms, this allows medical professionals to plan the administration and timing of treatments more effectively.

In contrast, isotopes with longer half-lives, such as 17 days or 74 days, would not provide the rapid decay characteristics that can be beneficial for specific treatment regimens where a more immediate therapeutic effect is desired. Therefore, knowing that Gold-198 has a half-life of 2.7 days is crucial for its application and the planning of radiation therapy protocols.