What is Aluminium-26?
'''Aluminium-26''' ('''<sup>26</sup>Al''', '''Al-26''') is a [[Radioisotope|radioactive isotope]] of [[aluminium]]. It [[Radioactive decay|decays]] by either [[positron emission]] or [[electron capture]] to [[magnesium-26]]. The [[Half-life (element)|half-life]] of <sup>26</sup>Al is 7.17×10<sup>5</sup> years. A small amount of aluminium-26 is made when [[Atom|atoms]] hit [[cosmic ray]] [[Proton|protons]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Overholt|first1=Andrew C.|last2=Melott|first2=Adrian L.|date=2013|title=Cosmogenic nuclide enhancement via deposition from long-period comets as a test of the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0012821X13004044|journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters|language=en|volume=377-378|pages=55–61|doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2013.07.029|arxiv=1307.6557|bibcode=2013E&PSL.377...55O|s2cid=119291750|via=}}</ref> When aluminium-26 decays it also produces [[Gamma ray|gamma rays]] and [[X-ray|x-rays]]. Because it is radioactive, it is usually kept behind at least 5 centimetres (2 in) of [[lead]]. We use special tools to transfer, use, and store aluminium-26.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://hpschapters.org/northcarolina/NSDS/26AlPDF.pdf|title=Nuclide Safety Data Sheet Aluminum-26|last=|first=|publisher=National Health& Physics Society|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Chemistry-stub}} [[Category:Isotopes]] [[Category:Aluminium]]