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 243.94 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 a 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 be transmuted to ⁶⁵Zn, which emits 1.115 MeV of gamma radiation in about half of decays, and would significantly increase the radioactivity of the weapon's fallout for several years. Such a weapon is not known to have ever been built, tested, or used.

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 | 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)%) |-id=Zinc-65m | style="text-indent:1em" | ^65mZn | colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | 53.928(10) keV | 1.6(6) ÃŽÂ¼s | 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) ÃŽÂ¼s | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | style="text-align:right" | 30 | style="text-align:right" | 57 | | | | | | |

See also

Daughter products other than zinc

• Isotopes of gallium
• Isotopes of copper
• Isotopes of nickel

References