Isotopes of actinium
Actinium (89Ac) has no stable isotopes and no characteristic terrestrial isotopic composition, thus a standard atomic weight cannot be given. There are 33 known isotopes, from 204Ac to 236Ac, and 7 isomers. Three isotopes are found in nature, 225Ac, 227Ac and 228Ac, as intermediate decay products of, respectively, 237Np, 235U, and 232Th. 228Ac and 225Ac are extremely rare, so almost all natural actinium is 227Ac.
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The most stable isotopes are 227Ac with a half-life of 21.772 years, 225Ac with a half-life of 10.0 days, and 226Ac with a half-life of 29.37 hours. All other isotopes have half-lives under 10 hours, and most under a minute. The shortest-lived known isotope is 217Ac with a half-life of 69 ns.
Purified 227Ac comes into equilibrium with its decay products (227Th and 223Fr) after 185 days.[2]
List of isotopes
Nuclide [n 1] |
Historic name |
Z | N | Isotopic mass (Da) [n 2][n 3] |
Half-life |
Decay mode [n 4] |
Daughter isotope [n 5] |
Spin and parity [n 6][n 7] |
Isotopic abundance | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excitation energy[n 7] | |||||||||||||||||||
204Ac[3] | 89 | 115 | 7.4+2.2 −1.4 ms |
α | 200Fr | ||||||||||||||
205Ac[4] | 89 | 116 | 7.7+2.7 −1.6 ms[3] |
α | 201Fr | 9/2−? | |||||||||||||
206Ac | 89 | 117 | 206.01450(8) | 25(7) ms | α | 202Fr | (3+) | ||||||||||||
206m1Ac | 80(50) keV | 15(6) ms | α | 202Fr | |||||||||||||||
206m2Ac | 290(110)# keV | 41(16) ms | α | 202mFr | (10−) | ||||||||||||||
207Ac | 89 | 118 | 207.01195(6) | 31(8) ms [27(+11−6) ms] |
α | 203Fr | 9/2−# | ||||||||||||
208Ac | 89 | 119 | 208.01155(6) | 97(16) ms [95(+24−16) ms] |
α (99%) | 204Fr | (3+) | ||||||||||||
β+ (1%) | 208Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
208mAc | 506(26) keV | 28(7) ms [25(+9−5) ms] |
α (89%) | 204Fr | (10−) | ||||||||||||||
IT (10%) | 208Ac | ||||||||||||||||||
β+ (1%) | 208Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
209Ac | 89 | 120 | 209.00949(5) | 92(11) ms | α (99%) | 205Fr | (9/2−) | ||||||||||||
β+ (1%) | 209Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
210Ac | 89 | 121 | 210.00944(6) | 350(40) ms | α (96%) | 206Fr | 7+# | ||||||||||||
β+ (4%) | 210Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
211Ac | 89 | 122 | 211.00773(8) | 213(25) ms | α (99.8%) | 207Fr | 9/2−# | ||||||||||||
β+ (.2%) | 211Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
212Ac | 89 | 123 | 212.00781(7) | 920(50) ms | α (97%) | 208Fr | 6+# | ||||||||||||
β+ (3%) | 212Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
213Ac | 89 | 124 | 213.00661(6) | 731(17) ms | α | 209Fr | (9/2−)# | ||||||||||||
β+ (rare) | 213Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
214Ac | 89 | 125 | 214.006902(24) | 8.2(2) s | α (89%) | 210Fr | (5+)# | ||||||||||||
β+ (11%) | 214Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
215Ac | 89 | 126 | 215.006454(23) | 0.17(1) s | α (99.91%) | 211Fr | 9/2− | ||||||||||||
β+ (.09%) | 215Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
216Ac | 89 | 127 | 216.008720(29) | 0.440(16) ms | α | 212Fr | (1−) | ||||||||||||
β+ (7×10−5%) | 216Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
216mAc | 44(7) keV | 443(7) µs | (9−) | ||||||||||||||||
217Ac | 89 | 128 | 217.009347(14) | 69(4) ns | α (98%) | 213Fr | 9/2− | ||||||||||||
β+ (6.9×10−9%) | 217Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
217mAc | 2012(20) keV | 740(40) ns | (29/2)+ | ||||||||||||||||
218Ac | 89 | 129 | 218.01164(5) | 1.08(9) µs | α | 214Fr | (1−)# | ||||||||||||
218mAc | 584(50)# keV | 103(11) ns | (11+) | ||||||||||||||||
219Ac | 89 | 130 | 219.01242(5) | 11.8(15) µs | α | 215Fr | 9/2− | ||||||||||||
β+ (10−6%) | 219Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
220Ac | 89 | 131 | 220.014763(16) | 26.36(19) ms | α | 216Fr | (3−) | ||||||||||||
β+ (5×10−4%) | 220Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
221Ac | 89 | 132 | 221.01559(5) | 52(2) ms | α | 217Fr | 9/2−# | ||||||||||||
222Ac | 89 | 133 | 222.017844(6) | 5.0(5) s | α (99%) | 218Fr | 1− | ||||||||||||
β+ (1%) | 222Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
222mAc | 200(150)# keV | 1.05(7) min | α (88.6%) | 218Fr | high | ||||||||||||||
IT (10%) | 222Ac | ||||||||||||||||||
β+ (1.4%) | 222Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
223Ac | 89 | 134 | 223.019137(8) | 2.10(5) min | α (99%) | 219Fr | (5/2−) | ||||||||||||
EC (1%) | 223Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
CD (3.2×10−9%) | 209Bi 14C | ||||||||||||||||||
224Ac | 89 | 135 | 224.021723(4) | 2.78(17) h | β+ (90.9%) | 224Ra | 0− | ||||||||||||
α (9.1%) | 220Fr | ||||||||||||||||||
β− (1.6%) | 224Th | ||||||||||||||||||
225Ac[n 8] | 89 | 136 | 225.023230(5) | 10.0(1) d | α | 221Fr | (3/2−) | Trace[n 9] | |||||||||||
CD (6×10−10%) | 211Bi 14C | ||||||||||||||||||
226Ac | 89 | 137 | 226.026098(4) | 29.37(12) h | β− (83%) | 226Th | (1)(−#) | ||||||||||||
EC (17%) | 226Ra | ||||||||||||||||||
α (.006%) | 222Fr | ||||||||||||||||||
227Ac | Actinium[n 10] | 89 | 138 | 227.0277521(26) | 21.772(3) y | β− (98.61%) | 227Th | 3/2− | Trace[n 11] | ||||||||||
α (1.38%) | 223Fr | ||||||||||||||||||
228Ac | Mesothorium 2 | 89 | 139 | 228.0310211(27) | 6.13(2) h | β− | 228Th | 3+ | Trace[n 12] | ||||||||||
α (5.5×10−6%) | 224Fr | ||||||||||||||||||
229Ac | 89 | 140 | 229.03302(4) | 62.7(5) min | β− | 229Th | (3/2+) | ||||||||||||
230Ac | 89 | 141 | 230.03629(32) | 122(3) s | β− | 230Th | (1+) | ||||||||||||
231Ac | 89 | 142 | 231.03856(11) | 7.5(1) min | β− | 231Th | (1/2+) | ||||||||||||
232Ac | 89 | 143 | 232.04203(11) | 119(5) s | β− | 232Th | (1+) | ||||||||||||
233Ac | 89 | 144 | 233.04455(32)# | 145(10) s | β− | 233Th | (1/2+) | ||||||||||||
234Ac | 89 | 145 | 234.04842(43)# | 44(7) s | β− | 234Th | |||||||||||||
235Ac | 89 | 146 | 235.05123(38)# | 60(4) s | β− | 235Th | 1/2+# | ||||||||||||
236Ac[5] | 89 | 147 | 236.05530(54)# | 72+345 −33 s |
β− | 236Th | |||||||||||||
This table header & footer: |
- mAc – Excited nuclear isomer.
- ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
- # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
-
Modes of decay:
CD: Cluster decay EC: Electron capture IT: Isomeric transition - Bold italics symbol as daughter – Daughter product is nearly stable.
- ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
- # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
- Has medical uses
- Intermediate decay product of 237Np
- Source of element's name
- Intermediate decay product of 235U
- Intermediate decay product of 232Th
Actinides vs fission products
Actinides[6] by decay chain | Half-life range (a) |
Fission products of 235U by yield[7] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4n | 4n + 1 | 4n + 2 | 4n + 3 | 4.5–7% | 0.04–1.25% | <0.001% | ||
228Ra№ | 4–6 a | 155Euþ | ||||||
244Cmƒ | 241Puƒ | 250Cf | 227Ac№ | 10–29 a | 90Sr | 85Kr | 113mCdþ | |
232Uƒ | 238Puƒ | 243Cmƒ | 29–97 a | 137Cs | 151Smþ | 121mSn | ||
248Bk[8] | 249Cfƒ | 242mAmƒ | 141–351 a |
No fission products have a half-life in the range of 100 a–210 ka ... | ||||
241Amƒ | 251Cfƒ[9] | 430–900 a | ||||||
226Ra№ | 247Bk | 1.3–1.6 ka | ||||||
240Pu | 229Th | 246Cmƒ | 243Amƒ | 4.7–7.4 ka | ||||
245Cmƒ | 250Cm | 8.3–8.5 ka | ||||||
239Puƒ | 24.1 ka | |||||||
230Th№ | 231Pa№ | 32–76 ka | ||||||
236Npƒ | 233Uƒ | 234U№ | 150–250 ka | 99Tc₡ | 126Sn | |||
248Cm | 242Pu | 327–375 ka | 79Se₡ | |||||
1.53 Ma | 93Zr | |||||||
237Npƒ | 2.1–6.5 Ma | 135Cs₡ | 107Pd | |||||
236U | 247Cmƒ | 15–24 Ma | 129I₡ | |||||
244Pu | 80 Ma |
... nor beyond 15.7 Ma[10] | ||||||
232Th№ | 238U№ | 235Uƒ№ | 0.7–14.1 Ga | |||||
|
See also
References
- 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.
- G. D. Considine, ed. (2005). "Chemical Elements". Van Nostrand's Encyclopedia of Chemistry. Wiley-Interscience. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-471-61525-5.
- Huang, M. H.; Gan, Z. G.; Zhang, Z. Y.; et al. (10 November 2022). "α decay of the new isotope 204Ac". Physics Letters B. 834: 137484. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2022.137484. ISSN 0370-2693. S2CID 252730841.
- Zhang, Z. Y.; Gan, Z. G.; Ma, L.; et al. (January 2014). "α decay of the new neutron-deficient isotope 205Ac". Physical Review C. 89 (1): 014308. Bibcode:2014PhRvC..89a4308Z. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.89.014308.
- Chen, L.; et al. (2010). "Discovery and investigation of heavy neutron-rich isotopes with time-resolved Schottky spectrometry in the element range from thallium to actinium" (PDF). Physics Letters B. 691 (5): 234–237. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2010.05.078.
- Plus radium (element 88). While actually a sub-actinide, it immediately precedes actinium (89) and follows a three-element gap of instability after polonium (84) where no nuclides have half-lives of at least four years (the longest-lived nuclide in the gap is radon-222 with a half life of less than four days). Radium's longest lived isotope, at 1,600 years, thus merits the element's inclusion here.
- Specifically from thermal neutron fission of uranium-235, e.g. in a typical nuclear reactor.
- Milsted, J.; Friedman, A. M.; Stevens, C. M. (1965). "The alpha half-life of berkelium-247; a new long-lived isomer of berkelium-248". Nuclear Physics. 71 (2): 299. Bibcode:1965NucPh..71..299M. doi:10.1016/0029-5582(65)90719-4.
"The isotopic analyses disclosed a species of mass 248 in constant abundance in three samples analysed over a period of about 10 months. This was ascribed to an isomer of Bk248 with a half-life greater than 9 [years]. No growth of Cf248 was detected, and a lower limit for the β− half-life can be set at about 104 [years]. No alpha activity attributable to the new isomer has been detected; the alpha half-life is probably greater than 300 [years]." - This is the heaviest nuclide with a half-life of at least four years before the "sea of instability".
- Excluding those "classically stable" nuclides with half-lives significantly in excess of 232Th; e.g., while 113mCd has a half-life of only fourteen years, that of 113Cd is nearly eight quadrillion years.
- 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:
- de Laeter, John Robert; Böhlke, John Karl; De Bièvre, Paul; Hidaka, Hiroshi; Peiser, H. Steffen; Rosman, Kevin J. R.; Taylor, Philip D. P. (2003). "Atomic weights of the elements. Review 2000 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 75 (6): 683–800. doi:10.1351/pac200375060683.
- 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.