Question:

What is the physical half-life of Iodine-131?

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Recall the short therapeutic radioiodine used for thyroid ablation.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • 8 hours
  • 8 days
  • 8 weeks
  • 8 months
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Iodine-131 is a radioactive isotope of iodine used in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.

Step 2: Its physical half-life, the time for half the radioactive atoms to decay, is approximately 8 days. This relatively short half-life means the activity falls quickly, which is convenient for therapy and limits prolonged radiation exposure.

Step 3: The other choices are incorrect. Iodine-123 has a half-life of about 13 hours and Iodine-132 about 2.3 hours, so neither corresponds to 8 days; 8 weeks and 8 months are far too long for any common iodine radioisotope.

Step 4: Hence the half-life of Iodine-131 is 8 days.
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