Download Tellurium isotopes in Earth/planetary science Tellurium isotopes are

Stable
Relative
Mole
isotope
atomic mass
fraction
120
Te
119.904 06
0.0009
122
121.903 04
0.0255
Te
123
122.904 27
0.0089
Te
124
Te
123.902 82
0.0474
125
Te
124.904 43
0.0707
126
Te
125.903 31
0.1884
128
†
Te
127.904 461
0.3174
130
†
Te
129.906 222 75
0.3408
† Radioactive isotope having a relatively long
half-life and a characteristic terrestrial isotopic
composition that contributes significantly and
reproducibly to the determination of the
standard atomic weight of the element in
normal materials. The half-lives of 128Te and
130
Te are 2.0 × 1024 and 7 × 1020 years,
respectively.
Tellurium isotopes in Earth/planetary science
Tellurium isotopes are a mixture of r-process, s-process, and p-process nucleosynthesis
products, making them useful for studying the contribution of stellar products to the molecular
cloud from which the Sun and planets were formed (Figure 1) [381-383].
Fig. 1: Tellurium isotopic composition of selected meteorites and terrestrial materials
(modified from [383]). Based on these data, Fehr et al. [383] conclude that the regions of the
solar disk that were sampled during accretion of meteorite parent bodies were well mixed and
homogeneous on a large scale, with respect to tellurium isotopes.
Tellurium isotopes in geochronology
The double beta decay of 130Te has been studied for use in the determination of gas-retention
ages of tellurium minerals [384].
Tellurium isotopes used as a source of radioactive isotope(s)
120
Te is used for the production of 120gI via the 120Te (p, n) 120gI reaction, which is used as a
positron emission tomography (PET) and beta-emitting isotope [385, 386]. 122Te is used in the
production of the radioisotope 122 I via the reaction 122Te (p, n) 122I, which is used in gamma
imaging [387]. 123Te is used for the production of radioactive 123I via the 123 Te (p, n) 123I
reaction, which is used in thyroid imaging [388] and for in vivo medical studies using singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT) [388] 124Te is used for the production of
both 123I and the PET isotope 124I via the 124Te (p, 2n) 123I and 124Te (p, n) 124 I reactions,
respectively [388-391].
Glossary
atomic number (Z) – The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
CT scan (X-ray computed tomography or X-ray CT, computerized axial tomography scan
or CAT scan) – a computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken
from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of
the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside your body [702].
double beta decay – a type of radioactive decay in which two protons simultaneously are
transformed into two neutrons inside the nucleus of an atom, increasing the atomic number of
the atom by two. [return]
electron – elementary particle of matter with a negative electric charge and a rest mass of about
9.109 × 10–31 kg.
element (chemical element) – a species of atoms; all atoms with the same number of protons in
the atomic nucleus. A pure chemical substance composed of atoms with the same number of
protons in the atomic nucleus [703]. [return]
gamma rays (gamma radiation) – a stream of high-energy electromagnetic radiation given off
by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay. The energies of gamma rays are higher
than those of X-rays; thus, gamma rays have greater penetrating power.
half-life (radioactive) – the time interval that it takes for the total number of atoms of any
radioactive isotope to decay and leave only one-half of the original number of atoms.
in vivo – in the living body (plant or animal). [return]
isotope – one of two or more species of atoms of a given element (having the same number of
protons in the nucleus) with different atomic masses (different number of neutrons in the
nucleus). The atom can either be a stable isotope or a radioactive isotope.
isotopic composition – number and abundance of the isotopes of a chemical element that are
naturally occurring [706]. [return]
meteorite – a meteoroid that has survived atmospheric passage and fallen to the Earth’s surface
in one or more recoverable fragments. See also chondrites [705]. [return]
neutron – an elementary particle with no net charge and a rest mass of about 1.675 × 10–27 kg,
slightly more than that of the proton. All atoms contain neutrons in their nucleus except for
protium (1H).
normal material – a reasonably possible source for an element or its compounds in commerce,
for industry or science; the material is not itself studied for some extraordinary anomaly and its
mole fractions (isotopic abundances) have not been modified significantly in a geologically brief
period [4]. [return]
nucleosynthesis – the production of a chemical element from simpler nuclei (as of hydrogen)
especially in a star. See r-process, s-process, and p-process [710]. [return]
p-process – a nucleosynthesis process responsible for proton-rich nuclei [711]. [return]
positron – the antimatter counterpart of the electron, with a mass identical to that of the electron
and an equal but opposite (positive) charge.
positron emission tomography (PET) scan – an imaging technique that is used to observe
metabolic activity within the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly
by a radioactive isotope used as a tracer, which emits positrons and which is introduced into the
body on a biologically-active molecule. Three-dimensional images of the concentration of the
radioactive isotope within the body are then constructed by computer analysis. The imaging
often is performed with an X-ray CT scan in the same instrument. [return]
proton – an elementary particle having a rest mass of about 1.673 × 10–27 kg, slightly less than
that of a neutron, and a positive electric charge equal and opposite to that of the electron. The
number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is the atomic number.
r-process (rapid neutron capture process) – nucleosynthesis process that occurs when
supernovae collapse, resulting in neutron-rich atomic nuclei heavier than iron. [return]
radioactive decay – the process by which unstable (or radioactive) isotopes lose energy by
emitting alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (positive or negative electrons), gamma
radiation, neutrons or protons to reach a final stable energy state.
radioactive isotope (radioisotope) – an atom for which radioactive decay has been
experimentally measured (also see half-life). [return]
s-process (slow-neutron-capture-process) – a nucleosynthesis process that occurs at relatively
low neutron density and intermediate temperature conditions in stars, producing isotopes of the
elements heavier than iron. The s-process is import in controlling the chemical evolution of the
galaxy. [return]
single-photon emission computed spectroscopy (SPECT) – a nuclear medicine imaging
technique that is able to provide true three-dimensional information using gamma rays from a
radiopharmaceutical. [return]
stable isotope – an atom for which no radioactive decay has ever been experimentally measured.
standard atomic weight – an evaluated quantity assigned by the IUPAC Commission on
Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW) to encompass the range of possible atomic
weights of a chemical element that might be encountered in all samples of normal terrestrial
materials. It is comprised of either an interval (currently for 12 elements) or a value and an
uncertainty (a standard Atomic-weight uncertainty), and currently there are 72. A standard
atomic weight is determined from an evaluation of peer-reviewed scientific publications.
[return]
X-rays – electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometers—
shorter than those of UV rays and typically longer than those of gamma rays.
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