What are the fundamentals of radiochemistry? This innovative branch of chemistry studies radioactive elements alongside their properties and reactions. Essentially, each chemical element on the periodic table contains at least one isotope in its atomic anatomy. An atom with an unstable nucleus is known as a radioisotope. These unstable isotopes emit radiation and are ideal for use in a variety of radiochemical methods.
Radiochemicals are radioactive chemical compounds, either of natural origin or human-made via radioisotopes. Their applications to society and industry continue to grow rapidly. Let’s closely examine four common uses of radiochemicals that you may not know about.
Radiochemicals in Environmental and Biological Sciences
An array of radiochemical methods serve as tools to identify radionuclides either within the body or within the environment. This type of experiment using radiolabeled compounds involves a chemical speciation process.
The idea is to familiarize a radiochemical to a system and compare the isolated species’ radiation. Radiotracer labeling studies have become common to evaluate toxic elements with ecosystems or bodily fluids and tissues. Radiotracers help locate specific elements and determine their metabolization rate.
Radiochemicals in Laboratory Work: Materials Testing
Other scientific studies occur by premier radiochemistry laboratories. This laboratory work requires quality equipment and instruments to deliver accurate data about collected samples. In a comprehensive facility, experts utilize radiochemicals to inspect materials or structures for either defects or degradation. A common type of this non-destructive testing is known as industrial radiography.
Radiochemicals in Analytical Chemistry: Analysis
Diving even deeper, analysis is another of the four common uses of radiochemicals that you may not know. Researchers greatly utilize radioisotopes as analytical tools due to their high sensitivity over other methods. As a branch of analytical chemistry, radiochemical analysis qualitatively measures the content of radioactive elements. Chemists use physical instruments, automated sensors, and chemical methods—such as purification or separation—to analyze compound composition.
Radiochemicals in Nuclear Medicine: Radiopharmaceuticals
The radiochemical industry remains highly beneficial for cutting-edge medical applications. The development and use of specialized radioisotopes continue to be revolutionary. Within nuclear medicine, radio-labeled compounds prove vital for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Pharmaceutical companies rely on radiolabeled compound suppliers and manufacturers to create, synthesize, or analyze radioactive compounds for use in research projects or clinical trials.
Moravek is one such trusted contract manufacturing organization. We synthesize and analyze radiolabeled compounds to support medical research and clinical trial stages around the world. Our team of experienced chemists can support a custom campaign to meet QA requirements and ensure a successful project. We can also identify and assess the purity of a radiochemical in our facility’s laboratories. Get in touch to learn more about Moravek quality and services.