Question

A patient swallows a radiopharmaceutical tagged with phosphorus-32

32

15

P

,

a β⁻ emitter with a half-life of 14.3 days. The average kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is 700 keV. The initial activity of the sample is 1.31 MBq.

(a) What is the number of electrons emitted in a 9.0 day period?
electrons

(b) What is the total energy deposited in the body during the 9.0 days?
J

(c) What is the absorbed dose if the electrons are completely absorbed in 150 g of tissue?
rad

Answer 1