Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan)

18F → 18O + e+ + νe

Overview

Fluorine-18 undergoes positron emission to become oxygen-18 with a half-life of 109.8 minutes. The emitted positron annihilates with an electron, producing two 511 keV gamma rays in opposite directions. This annihilation radiation is detected in PET (positron emission tomography) scanners.

Participants

Role Substance Coefficient State
Reactant Fluorine F 1 (s)
Product Oxygen O 1 (g)

Everyday Example

PET scans using F-18 labeled glucose (FDG) detect cancer by showing areas of high metabolic activity that consume more glucose than normal tissue.

Industrial Importance

F-18 FDG PET is the gold standard for cancer staging, treatment monitoring, and neurological imaging. Over 2 million PET scans are performed annually in the US.

Properties

Type
Nuclear
Reversible
No
Energy
Exothermic
ΔH
-64000000.0 kJ/mol

Related Reactions

Alpha Decay of Polonium-210 Alpha Decay of Radium-226 Alpha Decay of Radon-222 Alpha Decay of Thorium-232 Alpha Decay of Uranium-238 Americium-241 Alpha Decay Beta Decay of Carbon-14 Beta Decay of Cesium-137 Beta Decay of Cobalt-60 Beta Decay of Iodine-131

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan)?
The balanced equation is: ¹⁸F → ¹⁸O + e⁺ + νₑ.
What type of reaction is Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan)?
Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan) is a nuclear reaction.
Is Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan) exothermic or endothermic?
Positron Emission of Fluorine-18 (PET Scan) is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -64000000.0 kJ/mol.