Pertechnetate

The pertechnetate ion is an <a href="/facts/Oxyanion/0GuWXr6D">oxyanion</a> with the chemical formula TcO−4. It is often used as a convenient water-soluble source of isotopes of the radioactive element <a href="/facts/Technetium/MGYWNI5d">technetium</a> (Tc). In particular it is used to carry the <a href="/facts/Technetium-99m/HgIqtvrv">99mTc</a> isotope (half-life 6 hours) which is commonly used in <a href="/facts/Nuclear_medicine/L9Dzjd90">nuclear medicine</a> in several nuclear scanning procedures.
Pertechnetate is poorly hydrated as [TcO4(H2O)n]− and [TcO4(H2O)n-m]−[H3O]+m (n = 1–50, m = 1–4) clusters that have been demonstrated by simulation with DFT. First hydration shell of TcO4− is asymmetric and contains no more than 7 water molecules. Only three of the four oxygen atoms of TcO4− form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
A technetate(VII) salt is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">compound</a> containing this ion. Pertechnetate compounds are salts of <a href="/facts/Pertechnetic_acid/lmd5QAjs">technetic(VII) acid</a>. Pertechnetate is analogous to <a href="/facts/Permanganate/nJa04jVh">permanganate</a> but it has little oxidizing power. Pertechnetate has higher oxidation power than perrhenate.
Understanding pertechnetate is important in understanding technetium contamination in the environment and in <a href="/facts/Nuclear_waste_management/MjYh5tlu">nuclear waste management</a>.

Pertechnetate open-in-new

Pertechnetate