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phosphorus-32
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phosphorus-32

chemical isotope
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Quick Summary

Phosphorus-32 (³²P) is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus. While the only naturally occurring isotope of phosphorus is ³¹P, ³²P has been synthesized through nuclear reactions. It has a half-life of approximately 14.268 days.1

Phosphorus-32 is valuable in medical tracer studies, particularly for identifying malignant tumors. This is because cancerous cells tend to accumulate phosphates more readily than normal cells.2

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. phosphorus
  2. radioactivity - In medicine

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