Br-80 is produced in the 79Br(n, Y)80mBr!80Br nuclear reaction and in the decay of the metastable 80mBr. The half-life of the metastable 80mBr is 4.4 h, and this disin­tegrates to the 80Br isotope, the half-life of which is 18 min (isomeric transition). By irradiation of organic bromine compounds, the bond of bromine-80m can break as a result of the Szilard—Chalmers effect, producing inorganic bromine. When the inorganic bromine is separated immediately after the irradiation, it contains the ions of both radioactive isotopes, namely 80mBr and 80Br. After a few hours, only the product of the isomeric transition (80Br) can break out of the organic molecules, so it can be separated with high purity. The Br-80 isotope disintegrates with elec­tron capture and negative and positive beta decays.

Br-82 is produced in the 81Br(n, Y)82Br nuclear reaction. Its half-life is 35.9 h, and it emits (3_ and gamma radiation. For more information, see Section 8.7.1.1.