potassium-40

potassium-40 definition - medical

potassium-40

noun
A naturally occurring beta-emitting radioactive isotope of potassium having a half-life of 1.3 billion years; it is the chief source of natural radioactivity of living tissue.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.