Protactinium-234 is a radioactive isotope of protactinium, a rare element found in uranium ores. It has a half-life of about 1.17 minutes, which means it decays quickly into uranium-234. This isotope is part of the uranium decay series, where uranium isotopes transform into various other elements over time. Due to its short half-life, protactinium-234 is not commonly found in nature and is primarily produced in laboratories. It is used in scientific research to study radioactive decay processes and the behavior of heavy elements. Its properties help scientists understand the complexities of nuclear chemistry.