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How long is the half-life of iodine-131?

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A labeled diagram highlights the periodic table entry for iodine, atomic number 53, symbol I, atomic weight 126.90447, and electron configuration. It shows iodine as a solid halogen with an orthorhombic crystal structure and strongly acidic higher-valence oxides, using color and shape keys for classification.
iodine

The radioactive isotope iodine-131 has a half-life of eight days. This isotope is highly valued in the field of nuclear medicine for its ability to help diagnose and treat various conditions, particularly those involving the thyroid gland.123