To which element does Rb-82 decay?

Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) undergoes beta-plus decay, a type of radioactive decay commonly associated with positron emission. During this process, Rb-82 converts into another element by emitting a positron and a neutrino. The decay of Rb-82 specifically results in the formation of krypton-82 (Kr-82).

This transition occurs because Rb-82 has an atomic number of 37, and when it decays, it loses a proton, which reduces its atomic number to 36, the atomic number of Kr-82. The mass number remains the same at 82, leading to the formation of krypton-82, making this the correct answer to the question about Rb-82 decay.

Understanding this decay process is crucial in the application of PET imaging since Rb-82 is often used as a radiopharmaceutical in cardiac imaging, which reflects its significance in both clinical practice and the underlying principles of nuclear medicine.