Isotopes of zinc

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.

Isotopes of zinc (₃₀Zn)

Main isotopes[1] Decay abun­dance half-life (t1/2) mode pro­duct 64Zn 49.2% stable 65Zn synth 244 d β+ 65Cu 66Zn 27.7% stable 67Zn 4% stable 68Zn 18.5% stable 69Zn synth 56 min β− 69Ga 69mZn synth 13.8 h β− 69Ga 70Zn 0.6% stable 71Zn synth 2.4 min β− 71Ga 71mZn synth 4 h β− 71Ga 72Zn synth 46.5 h β− 72Ga
Standard atomic weight Ar°(Zn)
	65.38±0.02[2] 65.38±0.02 (abridged)[3]
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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^[4] 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.^[5]

List of isotopes

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

1. ^mZn – Excited nuclear isomer.
2. ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
3. # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
4. # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
5. Modes of decay:

   IT:	Isomeric transition
   n:	Neutron emission
   p:	Proton emission

6. Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
7. ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
8. Believed to undergo β⁺β⁺ decay to ⁶⁴Ni with a half-life over 6.0×10¹⁶ y
9. Believed to undergo β⁻β⁻ decay to ⁷⁰Ge with a half-life over 3.8×10¹⁸ y

References

1. Kondev, F. G.; Wang, M.; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.; Audi, G. (2021). "The NUBASE2020 evaluation of nuclear properties" (PDF). Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030001. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddae.
2. "Standard Atomic Weights: Zinc". CIAAW. 2007.
3. Prohaska, Thomas; Irrgeher, Johanna; Benefield, Jacqueline; Böhlke, John K.; Chesson, Lesley A.; Coplen, Tyler B.; Ding, Tiping; Dunn, Philip J. H.; Gröning, Manfred; Holden, Norman E.; Meijer, Harro A. J. (2022-05-04). "Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. doi:10.1515/pac-2019-0603. ISSN 1365-3075.
4. Roost, E.; Funck, E.; Spernol, A.; Vaninbroukx, R. (1972). "The decay of 65Zn". Zeitschrift für Physik. 250 (5): 395–412. Bibcode:1972ZPhy..250..395D. doi:10.1007/BF01379752. S2CID 124728537.
5. D. T. Win, M. Al Masum (2003). "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (PDF). Assumption University Journal of Technology. 6 (4): 199–219.
6. Wang, Meng; Huang, W.J.; Kondev, F.G.; Audi, G.; Naimi, S. (2021). "The AME 2020 atomic mass evaluation (II). Tables, graphs and references*". Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030003. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddaf.
7. 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. (30 November 2023). "Further Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Zn 79 m near Doubly Magic Ni 78". Physical Review Letters. 131 (22). arXiv:2310.16915. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.222503.
8. 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. (8 April 2024). "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. 109 (4). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.109.044313.

• Isotope masses from:
  • Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
• Isotopic compositions and standard atomic masses from:
  • Wieser, Michael E. (2006). "Atomic weights of the elements 2005 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 78 (11): 2051–2066. doi:10.1351/pac200678112051.
• "News & Notices: Standard Atomic Weights Revised". International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. 19 October 2005.
  • Wieser, Michael E. (2006). "Atomic weights of the elements 2005 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 78 (11): 2051–2066. doi:10.1351/pac200678112051.
• "News & Notices: Standard Atomic Weights Revised". International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. 19 October 2005.
• Half-life, spin, and isomer data selected from the following sources.
  • Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
  • National Nuclear Data Center. "NuDat 2.x database". Brookhaven National Laboratory.
  • Holden, Norman E. (2004). "11. Table of the Isotopes". In Lide, David R. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (85th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0485-9.

External links

• Zinc isotopes data from The Berkeley Laboratory Isotopes Project's