Phosphorus-32

Phosphorus-32, 32P
General
Symbol32P
Namesphosphorus-32, 32P, P-32
Protons (Z)15
Neutrons (N)17
Nuclide data
Natural abundancetrace
Half-life (t1/2)14.268 d
Isotope mass31.973907274 Da
Excess energy24305 keV
Decay products32S
Decay modes
Decay modeDecay energy (MeV)
Beta emission1.70912
Isotopes of phosphorus
Complete table of nuclides

Phosphorus-32 (32P) is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus. The nucleus of phosphorus-32 contains 15 protons and 17 neutrons, one more neutron than the most common isotope of phosphorus, phosphorus-31. Phosphorus-32 only exists in small quantities on Earth as it has a short half-life of 14 days and so decays rapidly.

Phosphorus is found in many organic molecules and so phosphorus-32 has many applications in medicine, biochemistry, and molecular biology where it can be used to trace phosphorylated molecules (for example, in elucidating metabolic pathways) and radioactively label DNA.


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