Isotopes of zinc explained

Naturally occurring zinc (30Zn) is composed of the 5 stable isotopes 64Zn, 66Zn, 67Zn, 68Zn, and 70Zn with 64Zn being the most abundant (48.6% natural abundance). Twenty-eight radioisotopes have been characterised with the most stable being 65Zn with a half-life of 244.26 days, and then 72Zn with a half-life of 46.5 hours. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are less than 14 hours and the majority of these have half-lives that are less than 1 second. This element also has 10 meta states.

Zinc has been proposed as a "salting" material for nuclear weapons. A jacket of isotopically enriched 64Zn, irradiated by the intense high-energy neutron flux from an exploding thermonuclear weapon, would transmute into the radioactive isotope 65Zn with a half-life of 244 days and produce approximately 1.115 MeV[1] of gamma radiation, significantly increasing the radioactivity of the weapon's fallout for several years. Such a weapon is not known to have ever been built, tested, or used.[2]

List of isotopes

|-id=Zinc-54| 54Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 24| 53.99388(23)#| 1.8(5) ms| 2p| 52Ni| 0+|||-id=Zinc-55| rowspan=2|55Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 25| rowspan=2|54.98468(43)#| rowspan=2|19.8(13) ms| β+, p (91.0%)| 54Ni| rowspan=2|5/2−#| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β+ (9.0%)| 55Cu|-id=Zinc-56| rowspan=2|56Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 26| rowspan=2|55.97274(43)#| rowspan=2|32.4(7) ms| β+, p (88.0%)| 55Ni| rowspan=2|0+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β+ (12.0%)| 56Cu|-id=Zinc-57| rowspan=2|57Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 27| rowspan=2|56.96506(22)#| rowspan=2|45.7(6) ms| β+, p (87%)| 56Ni| rowspan=2|7/2−#| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β+ (13%)| 57Cu|-id=Zinc-58| rowspan=2|58Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 28| rowspan=2|57.954590(54)| rowspan=2|86.0(19) ms| β+ (99.3%)| 58Cu| rowspan=2|0+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β+, p (0.7%)| 57Ni|-id=Zinc-59| rowspan=2|59Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 29| rowspan=2|58.94931189(81)| rowspan=2|178.7(13) ms| β+ (99.90%)| 59Cu| rowspan=2|3/2−| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β+, p (0.10%)| 58Ni|-id=Zinc-60| 60Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 30| 59.94184132(59)| 2.38(5) min| β+| 60Cu| 0+|||-id=Zinc-61| 61Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 31| 60.939507(17)| 89.1(2) s| β+| 61Cu| 3/2−|||-id=Zinc-62| 62Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 32| 61.93433336(66)| 9.193(15) h| β+| 62Cu| 0+|||-id=Zinc-63| 63Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 33| 62.9332111(17)| 38.47(5) min| β+| 63Cu| 3/2−|||-id=Zinc-64| 64Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 34| 63.92914178(69)| colspan=3 align=center|Observationally Stable[3] | 0+| 0.4917(75)||-id=Zinc-65| rowspan="2"|65Zn| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right" | 35| rowspan="2"|64.92924053(69)| rowspan="2"|243.94(4) d| EC (98.579(7)%)| rowspan="2"|65Cu| rowspan="2"|5/2−| rowspan="2"|| rowspan="2"||-| β+ (1.421(7)%)[4] |-id=Zinc-65m| style="text-indent:1em" | 65mZn| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 53.928(10) keV| 1.6(6) μs| IT| 65Zn| 1/2−|||-id=Zinc-66| 66Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 36| 65.92603364(80)| colspan=3 align=center|Stable| 0+| 0.2773(98)||-id=Zinc-67| 67Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 37| 66.92712742(81)| colspan=3 align=center|Stable| 5/2−| 0.0404(16)||-id=Zinc-67m1| style="text-indent:1em" | 67m1Zn| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 93.312(5) keV| 9.15(7) μs| IT| 67Zn| 1/2−|||-id=Zinc-67m2| style="text-indent:1em" | 67m2Zn| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 604.48(5) keV| 333(14) ns| IT| 67Zn| 9/2+|||-id=Zinc-68| 68Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 38| 67.92484423(84)| colspan=3 align=center|Stable| 0+| 0.1845(63)||-id=Zinc-69| 69Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 39| 68.92655036(85)| 56.4(9) min| β−| 69Ga| 1/2−|||-id=Zinc-69m| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | 69mZn| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 438.636(18) keV| rowspan=2|13.747(11) h| IT (99.97%)| 69Zn| rowspan=2|9/2+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β− (0.033%)| 69Ga|-id=Zinc-70| 70Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 40| 69.9253192(21)| colspan=3 align=center|Observationally Stable[5] | 0+| 0.0061(10)||-id=Zinc-71| 71Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 41| 70.9277196(28)| 2.40(5) min| β−| 71Ga| 1/2−|||-id=Zinc-71m| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | 71mZn| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 157.7(13) keV| rowspan=2|4.148(12) h| β−| 71Ga| rowspan=2|9/2+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| IT?| 71Zn|-id=Zinc-72| 72Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 42| 71.9268428(23)| 46.5(1) h| β−| 72Ga| 0+|||-id=Zinc-73| 73Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 43| 72.9295826(20)| 24.5(2) s| β−| 73Ga| 1/2−|||-id=Zinc-73m| style="text-indent:1em" | 73mZn| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 195.5(2) keV| 13.0(2) ms| IT| 73Zn| 5/2+|||-id=Zinc-74| 74Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 44| 73.9294073(27)| 95.6(12) s| β−| 74Ga| 0+|||-id=Zinc-75| 75Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 45| 74.9328402(21)| 10.2(2) s| β−| 75Ga| 7/2+|||-id=Zinc-75m| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | 75mZn| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 126.94(9) keV| rowspan=2|5# s| β−?| 75Ga| rowspan=2|1/2−| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| IT?| 75Zn|-id=Zinc-76| 76Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 46| 75.9331150(16)| 5.7(3) s| β−| 76Ga| 0+|||-id=Zinc-77| 77Zn| style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 47| 76.9368872(21)| 2.08(5) s| β−| 77Ga| 7/2+|||-id=Zinc-77m| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | 77mZn| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 772.440(15) keV| rowspan=2|1.05(10) s| β− (66%)| 77Ga| rowspan=2|1/2−| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| IT (34%)| 77Zn|-id=Zinc-78| rowspan=2|78Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 48| rowspan=2|77.9382892(21)| rowspan=2|1.47(15) s| β−| 78Ga| rowspan=2|0+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β−, n?| 77Ga|-id=Zinc-78m| style="text-indent:1em" | 78mZn| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 2673.7(6) keV| 320(6) ns| IT| 78Zn| (8+)|||-id=Zinc-79| rowspan=2|79Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 49| rowspan=2|78.9426381(24)| rowspan=2|746(42) ms| β− (98.3%)| 79Ga| rowspan=2|9/2+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β−, n (1.7%)| 78Ga|-id=Zinc-79m| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | 79mZn| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 942(10) keV[6] | rowspan=2|>200 ms| β−?| 79Ga| rowspan=2|1/2+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| IT?| 79Zn|-id=Zinc-80| rowspan=2|80Zn| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 50| rowspan=2|79.9445529(28)| rowspan=2|562.2(30) ms| β− (98.64%)| 80Ga| rowspan=2|0+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β−, n (1.36%)| 79Ga|-id=Zinc-81| rowspan=3|81Zn| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 51| rowspan=3|80.9504026(54)| rowspan=3|299.4(21) ms| β− (77%)| 81Ga| rowspan=3|(1/2+, 5/2+)| rowspan=3|| rowspan=3||-| β−, n (23%)| 80Ga|-| β−, 2n?| 79Ga|-id=Zinc-82| rowspan=3|82Zn| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 52| rowspan=3|81.9545741(33)| rowspan=3|177.9(25) ms| β−, n (69%)| 81Ga| rowspan=3|0+| rowspan=3|| rowspan=3||-| β− (31%)| 82Ga|-| β−, 2n?| 80Ga|-id=Zinc-83| rowspan=3|83Zn| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 53| rowspan=3|82.96104(32)#| rowspan=3|100(3) ms| β−, n (71%)| 82Ga| rowspan=3|3/2+#| rowspan=3|| rowspan=3||-| β− (29%)| 83Ga|-| β−, 2n?| 81Ga|-id=Zinc-84| rowspan=3|84Zn| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 54| rowspan=3|83.96583(43)#| rowspan=3|54(8) ms| β−, n (73%)| 83Ga| rowspan=3|0+| rowspan=3|| rowspan=3||-| β− (27%)| 84Ga|-| β−, 2n?| 82Ga|-id=Zinc-85| rowspan=3|85Zn| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 55| rowspan=3|84.97305(54)#| rowspan=3|40# ms [>400 ns]| β−?| 85Ga| rowspan=3|5/2+#| rowspan=3|| rowspan=3||-| β−, n?| 84Ga|-| β−, 2n?| 83Ga|-id=Zinc-86| rowspan=2|86Zn[7] | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 30| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 56| rowspan=2|85.97846(54)#| rowspan=2|| β−?| 86Ga| rowspan=2|0+| rowspan=2|| rowspan=2||-| β−, n?| 85Ga|-id=Zinc-87| 87Zn[7] | style="text-align:right" | 30| style="text-align:right" | 57| | | | | | |

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Roost . E. . Funck . E. . Spernol . A. . Vaninbroukx . R. . The decay of 65Zn . Zeitschrift für Physik . 250 . 5 . 395–412 . 1972 . 10.1007/BF01379752. 1972ZPhy..250..395D . 124728537 .
  2. D. T. Win, M. Al Masum . 2003 . Weapons of Mass Destruction . . 6 . 4 . 199 - 219.
  3. Believed to undergo β+β+ decay to 64Ni with a half-life over 6.0×1016 y
  4. Web site: 65Zn ε decay. NNDC Chart of Nuclides.
  5. Believed to undergo β−β− decay to 70Ge with a half-life over 3.8×1018 y
  6. Nies . L. . Canete . L. . Dao . D. D. . Giraud . S. . Kankainen . A. . Lunney . D. . Nowacki . F. . Bastin . B. . Stryjczyk . M. . Ascher . P. . Blaum . K. . Cakirli . R. B. . Eronen . T. . Fischer . P. . Flayol . M. . Girard Alcindor . V. . Herlert . A. . Jokinen . A. . Khanam . A. . Köster . U. . Lange . D. . Moore . I. D. . Müller . M. . Mougeot . M. . Nesterenko . D. A. . Penttilä . H. . Petrone . C. . Pohjalainen . I. . de Roubin . A. . Rubchenya . V. . Schweiger . Ch. . Schweikhard . L. . Vilen . M. . Äystö . J. . Further Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Zn 79 m near Doubly Magic Ni 78 . Physical Review Letters . 30 November 2023 . 131 . 22 . 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.222503. 2310.16915 .
  7. Shimizu . Y. . Kubo . T. . Sumikama . T. . Fukuda . N. . Takeda . H. . Suzuki . H. . Ahn . D. S. . Inabe . N. . Kusaka . K. . Ohtake . M. . Yanagisawa . Y. . Yoshida . K. . Ichikawa . Y. . Isobe . T. . Otsu . H. . Sato . H. . Sonoda . T. . Murai . D. . Iwasa . N. . Imai . N. . Hirayama . Y. . Jeong . S. C. . Kimura . S. . Miyatake . H. . Mukai . M. . Kim . D. G. . Kim . E. . Yagi . A. . Production of new neutron-rich isotopes near the N = 60 isotones Ge 92 and As 93 by in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon U 238 beam . Physical Review C . 8 April 2024 . 109 . 4 . 10.1103/PhysRevC.109.044313.

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