Beyond Atomic Numbers - Every Element Has a Story
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7
5
D Block
Transition Metal
Technetium was discovered in 1937 by Carlo Perrier and Emilio Segrè. It became the first element to be produced artificially, filling the long-missing position 43 in the periodic table. Its name comes from the Greek word technetos, meaning "artificial."
Technetium does not occur in significant natural quantities because all of its isotopes are radioactive. Today it is mainly produced in nuclear reactors as a by-product of uranium fission.
Group 7 | Period 5 | D Block | Transition Metal
Technetium is best known for its use in nuclear medicine. Its isotope Technetium-99m is used every day in hospitals around the world to produce images of the heart, bones, kidneys, lungs and other organs.
Molybdenum, Rhenium and Nuclear Medicine Isotopes
Because every isotope of technetium is radioactive, it must be handled carefully using shielding and strict safety procedures.
Electronic Configuration: [Kr] 4d⁵ 5s²
Technetium-99m emits gamma rays that allow doctors to obtain detailed images of organs while exposing patients to relatively low radiation doses.
More than 30 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year worldwide using technetium-99m, making it one of the most widely used medical isotopes.
Technetium-99m is injected into patients in tiny amounts so doctors can observe how organs function. It helps detect heart disease, bone disorders, cancers and many other medical conditions.
For many years, scientists knew that an element should exist between molybdenum and ruthenium, but they could not find it in nature. In 1937, technetium became the first element to be created artificially, proving that humans could produce entirely new elements.
Technetium is one of the greatest examples of science serving humanity. Although every atom of it is radioactive, doctors use carefully controlled amounts to diagnose disease without surgery. Millions of patients benefit each year because this remarkable element helps physicians look inside the body safely and accurately.
Researchers continue to study technetium in radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear chemistry, waste management and advanced imaging techniques to improve medical diagnosis and treatment.
Although rare on Earth, technetium has been detected in certain stars. Its presence provides evidence that those stars are actively producing new elements through nuclear reactions.
The discovery of technetium in the spectra of giant stars confirmed that stars continuously create new elements, supporting our modern understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis.