Technetium

Tc Element

Technetium, with the symbol Tc and the atomic number 43, is a chemical element. Technetium element is the lightest element whose isotopes are all radioactive, none of which is stable other than 97Tc's completely ionized state. As a synthetic element, almost all usable technetium is made. Naturally occurring technetium, the most common source or result of neutron capture in molybdenum ores, or is a spontaneous fission product in uranium ore and thorium ore.

Tc Periodic Table

It belongs to group 7 and period 5. It is a d block element. It is solid at 20C.

Technetium atomic number is 43

Tc Electronic configuration- [Kr] 4d5 5s2

Melting point- 2157°C, 3915°F, 2430 K

Boiling point- 4262°C, 7704°F, 4535 K

Density - 11

Relative atomic mass- 98

Physical Properties of Technetium

Technetium, commonly obtained as a gray powder, is a silvery-gray radioactive metal with an appearance identical to platinum. The pure metal's crystal structure is hexagonal close-packed. Atomic technetium has characteristic wavelength emission lines of 363.3 nm, 403.1 nm, 426.2 nm, 429.7 nm, and 485.3 nm respectively. 

The metal type is slightly paramagnetic, indicating that its magnetic dipoles interact with external magnetic fields, but once the field is removed, they will assume random orientations. At temperatures below 7.46 K, pure, metallic, single-crystal technetium becomes a type-II superconductor. Technetium has a very high magnetic penetration depth below this temperature, greater than any other element, except for niobium.

Chemical Properties of Technetium

Its chemical properties are between those two elements, as predicted by the periodic law. Of the two, technetium, especially in its chemical inertness and propensity to form covalent bonds, closely resembles rhenium.[26] Unlike manganese, technetium does not easily form cations (ions with a net positive charge). Technetium shows nine states of oxidation from -1 to +7, the most common being +4, +5, and +7.  Technetium dissolves in aqua regia, nitric acid, and concentrated sulfuric acid, but is not soluble in any concentration of hydrochloric acid.

Metallic technetium steadily tarnishes in moist air and burns in oxygen in powder form.

Technetium Uses

1. Used as a catalyst equivalent to the use of rhenium and palladium. 

2. Protect steel from corrosion. 

3. In the development of photoelectric nuclear batteries, some compounds are helpful. 

4. For mapping the circulatory system and any illnesses, the metal could be used. 

5. Proposedly, optoelectric nuclear batteries may be used.

Did You Know?

• As it is a radioactive metal, it is dangerous and life-threatening. 

• The 99Tc compound is extremely contaminated and life-threatening in nature. 

• When handling the chemical, one must use a protective glove box.