All atomic nuclei of the chemical element actinium are summarized under actinium isotopes; these consist of an atomic nucleus with 89 protons and in the uncharged state of 89 electrons. The difference between the individual actinium isotopes lies in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
The radioactive element actinium only has unstable ones, the longest-lived of which has a half-life of less than 21.8 years.
Small amounts of actinium-227 and actinium-228 (mesothorium II) are found in nature as intermediates in radioactive decay chains emanating from uranium-235 and thorium-232, respectively. By far the largest proportion of natural actinium is provided by the isotope 227.
The individual actinium isotopes are of little practical importance; on the one hand, this is due to the high production costs and, on the other hand, to the high level of radioactivity that these nuclides emit. The isotope with mass number 225 can be used as an alpha emitter for the medical treatment of certain types of cancer.
The following data collection provides the most important properties of all actinium isotopes: These include, among other things, the atomic properties and information on the radioactive decays. Further values for the individual Ac isotopes - if necessary with the graphic representation of the decay series - can be found on the linked data sheets.
Isotope Nuclide | E | N | Atomic Mass [Nuclear Mass] {Mass Excess} | Spin I (h/2π) | Parent |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Actinium-203 | 20389Ac | 114 | 203 u [202.9511826 u] {0 MeV} | (1/2+) | |
Actinium-204 | 20489Ac | 115 | 204 u [203.9511826 u] {0 MeV} | ||
Actinium-205 | 20589Ac | 116 | 205.01514(5) u [204.9663226 u] {14.10282 MeV} | ||
Actinium-206 | 20689Ac | 117 | 206.01447(5) u [205.9656526 u] {13.47872 MeV} | (3+) | |
Actinium-206m1 | 206m189Ac | 117 | 206.01447(5) u [205.9656526 u] {13.47872 MeV} | (10-) | |
Actinium-207 | 20789Ac | 118 | 207.01197(5) u [206.9631526 u] {11.14998 MeV} | (9/2-) | |
Actinium-208 | 20889Ac | 119 | 208.01154(6) u [207.9627226 u] {10.74944 MeV} | (3+) | 212Pa |
Actinium-208m | 208m89Ac | 119 | 208.01154(6) u [207.9627226 u] {10.74944 MeV} | (10-) | |
Actinium-209 | 20989Ac | 120 | 209.00949(5) u [208.9606726 u] {8.83988 MeV} | (9/2-) | 213Pa |
Actinium-210 | 21089Ac | 121 | 210.00944(6) u [209.9606226 u] {8.7933 MeV} | 7+ | 214Pa 210Th |
Actinium-211 | 21189Ac | 122 | 211.00773(6) u [210.9589126 u] {7.20045 MeV} | 9/2- | 215Pa 211Th |
Actinium-212 | 21289Ac | 123 | 212.00781(6) u [211.9589926 u] {7.27497 MeV} | (7+) | 216Pa 212Th |
Actinium-213 | 21389Ac | 124 | 213.006607(16) u [212.9577896 u] {6.15438 MeV} | (9/2-) | 217Pa 213Th |
Actinium-214 | 21489Ac | 125 | 214.006918(16) u [213.9581006 u] {6.44408 MeV} | (5+) | 218Pa |
Actinium-215 | 21589Ac | 126 | 215.006474(13) u [214.9576566 u] {6.03049 MeV} | 9/2- | 219Pa |
Actinium-215m1 | 215m189Ac | 126 | 215.006474(13) u [214.9576566 u] {6.03049 MeV} | (21/2-) | |
Actinium-215m2 | 215m289Ac | 126 | 215.006474(13) u [214.9576566 u] {6.03049 MeV} | (29/2+) | |
Actinium-216 | 21689Ac | 127 | 216.008743(12) u [215.9599256 u] {8.14405 MeV} | (1-) | 220Pa 216Th |
Actinium-216m | 216m89Ac | 127 | 216.008743(12) u [215.9599256 u] {8.14405 MeV} | (9-) | |
Actinium-217 | 21789Ac | 128 | 217.009344(12) u [216.9605266 u] {8.70388 MeV} | 9/2- | 221Pa |
Actinium-217m | 217m89Ac | 128 | 217.009344(12) u [216.9605266 u] {8.70388 MeV} | (29/2)+ | |
Actinium-218 | 21889Ac | 129 | 218.01164(5) u [217.9628226 u] {10.84259 MeV} | (1-) | 222Pa |
Actinium-218m | 218m89Ac | 129 | 218.01164(5) u [217.9628226 u] {10.84259 MeV} | (11+) | |
Actinium-219 | 21989Ac | 130 | 219.01242(5) u [218.9636026 u] {11.56916 MeV} | 9/2- | 223Pa |
Actinium-220 | 22089Ac | 131 | 220.014754(7) u [219.9659366 u] {13.74326 MeV} | (3-) | 224Pa 220Th |
Actinium-221 | 22189Ac | 132 | 221.01559(5) u [220.9667726 u] {14.52199 MeV} | (3/2-) | 225Pa |
Actinium-222 | 22289Ac | 133 | 222.017844(6) u [221.9690266 u] {16.62158 MeV} | 1- | 226Pa |
Actinium-222m | 222m89Ac | 133 | 222.017844(6) u [221.9690266 u] {16.62158 MeV} | ||
Actinium-223 | 22389Ac | 134 | 223.019137(8) u [222.9703196 u] {17.826 MeV} | (5/2-) | 227Pa |
Actinium-224 | 22489Ac | 135 | 224.021722(4) u [223.9729046 u] {20.23391 MeV} | (0-) | 228Pa |
Actinium-225 | 22589Ac | 136 | 225.023229(5) u [224.9744116 u] {21.63767 MeV} | (3/2-) | 229Pa 225Th 225Ra |
Actinium-226 | 22689Ac | 137 | 226.026097(3) u [225.9772796 u] {24.3092 MeV} | (1) | 230Pa |
Actinium-227 | 22789Ac | 138 | 227.0277507(21) u [226.9789333 u] {25.84961 MeV} | 3/2- | 231Pa 227Ra |
Actinium-228 | 22889Ac | 139 | 228.0310198(22) u [227.9822024 u] {28.89476 MeV} | 3+ | 228Ra |
Actinium-229 | 22989Ac | 140 | 229.032947(13) u [228.9841296 u] {30.68993 MeV} | (3/2+) | 229Ra |
Actinium-230 | 23089Ac | 141 | 230.036327(17) u [229.9875096 u] {33.83838 MeV} | (1+) | 230Ra |
Actinium-231 | 23189Ac | 142 | 231.038393(14) u [230.9895756 u] {35.76285 MeV} | 1/2+ | 231Ra |
Actinium-232 | 23289Ac | 143 | 232.042034(14) u [231.9932166 u] {39.15442 MeV} | (1+) | 232Ra |
Actinium-233 | 23389Ac | 144 | 233.044346(14) u [232.9955286 u] {41.30803 MeV} | (1/2+) | 233Ra |
Actinium-234 | 23489Ac | 145 | 234.048139(15) u [233.9993216 u] {44.84119 MeV} | (1+) | 234Ra |
Actinium-235 | 23589Ac | 146 | 235.050840(15) u [235.0020226 u] {47.35715 MeV} | 1/2+~ | |
Actinium-236 | 23689Ac | 147 | 236.05499(4) u [236.0061726 u] {51.22286 MeV} |
Isotope | Radioactive Decay | Extern | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Half-life | Decay Mode | Probability | Energy | ||
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Ac-203 | 0.056 ms | α → 199Fr | 8.217(16) MeV | AL | |
Ac-204 | 7.4 ms | α → 200Fr | ? | AL | |
Ac-205 | 20(+97-9) ms | α → 201Fr | ca. 100 % | 8.09(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-206 | 22(+9-5) ms | α → 202Fr | 100 % | 7.96(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-206m1 | 33(+22-9) ms | α → 202Fr | 100 % | AL | |
Ac-207 | 27(+11-6) ms | α → 203Fr | 100 % | 7.84(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-208 | 95(+24-16) ms | α → 204Fr EC → 208Ra | 99 % 1 % | 7.72(5) MeV 9.03(6) MeV | AL |
Ac-208m | 25(+9-5)ms | α → 204Fr β+ → 208Ra | 90 % 10 % | AL | |
Ac-209 | 87 ms | α → 205Fr | ~100 % | 7.73(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-210 | 0.35(5) s | α → 206Fr EC/β+ → 210Ra | 91 % 9 % | 7.61(5) MeV 8.35(6) MeV | AL |
Ac-211 | 0.21(3) s | α → 207Fr EC/β+ → 211Ra | > 99.8 % < 0.2 % | 7.62(5) MeV 6.37(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-212 | 0.93(5) s | α → 208Fr EC → 212Ra | 57 % 43 % | 7.52(5) MeV 7.48(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-213 | 738(16) ms | α → 209Fr &spsilon; → 213Ra | > 99 % << 1 % | 7.499(4) MeV ? | AL |
Ac-214 | 8.2(2) s | α → 210Fr EC → 214Ra | > 89(3) % < 11(3) % | 7.3521(25) MeV 6.351(16) MeV | AL |
Ac-215 | 0.17(1) s | α → 211Fr EC/β+ → 215Ra | 99.91(2) % 0.09(2) % | 7.746(3) MeV 3.497(15) MeV | AL |
Ac-215m1 | 185(30) ns | ||||
Ac-215m2 | 335(10) ns | ||||
Ac-216 | 440(16) μs | α → 212Fr | 100 % | 9.235(6) MeV | AL |
Ac-216m | 441(7) μs | α → 212Fr | 100 % | AL | |
Ac-217 | 69(4) ns | α → 213Fr EC/β+ → 217Ra | > 98 % < 2 % | 9.832(10) MeV 2.814(13) MeV | AL |
Ac-217m | 740(40) ns | α → 213Fr Iso → 217Ac | 4.51(18) % 95.49(18) % | AL | |
Ac-218 | 1.08(9) μs | α → 214Fr | 100 % | 9.38(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-218m | 103(11) ns | AL | |||
Ac-219 | 11.8(15) μs | α → 215Fr | 100 % | 8.83(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-220 | 26.4(2) ms | α → 216Fr EC → 220Ra | > 99 % 5×10-4 % | 8.348(4) MeV 3.473(10) MeV | AL |
Ac-221 | 52(2) ms | α → 217Fr | 100 % | 7.791(57) MeV | AL |
Ac-222 | 5.0(5) s | α → 218Fr EC/β+ → 222Ra | 99(1) % 1(1) % | 7.1374(20) MeV 2.301(7) MeV | AL |
Ac-222m | 63(3) s | α → 218Fr β+ → 222Ra Iso → 222Ac | > 88 % > 0.7(2) % < 10 % | AL | |
Ac-223 | 2.10(5) min | α → 219Fr EC → 223Ra | 99 % 1 % | 6.7832(10) MeV 0.593(7) MeV | AL |
Ac-224 | 2.78(16) h | α → 220Fr EC → 224Ra | 9.1 % 90.9 % | 6.3269(7) MeV 1.408(4) MeV | AL |
Ac-225 | 9.914(4) d | α → 221Fr CD → 14C | > 99 % << 1 % | 5.9351(14) MeV | AL |
Ac-226 | 29.37(12) h | α → 222Fr EC → 226Ra β- → 226Th | 0.006% 17(3) % 83(3) % | 5.506(8) MeV 0.642(4) MeV 1.112(5) MeV | AL |
Ac-227 | 21.772(3) a | α → 223Fr β- → 227Th | 1.3800(36) % 98.6200(36) % | 5.04227(14) MeV 0.0448(8) MeV | AL |
Ac-228 | 6.15(2) h | β- → 228Th | 100 % | 2.1237(26) MeV | AL |
Ac-229 | 62.7(5) min | β- → 229Th | 100 % | 1.104(12) MeV | AL |
Ac-230 | 122(3) s | β- → 230Th | 100 % | 2.976(16) MeV | AL |
Ac-231 | 7.5(1) min | β- → 231Th | 100 % | 1.947(13) MeV | AL |
Ac-232 | 119(5) s | β- → 232Th | 100 % | 3.708(13) MeV | AL |
Ac-233 | 145(10) s | β- → 233Th | 100 % | 2.576(13) MeV | AL |
Ac-234 | 44(7) s | β- → 234Th | 100 % | 4.228(14) MeV | AL |
Ac-235 | 62(4) s | β- → 235Th | 100 % | 3.339(19) MeV | AL |
Ac-236 | 1.2(+58-5) min | β- → 236Th | 100 % | 4.97(4) MeV | AL |
Notes (related to the columns):
1 - name of the nuclide, isotope.
2 - E: isotope symbol with mass number (superscript; number of nucleons) and Atomic number (subscript; number of protons).
3 - N: number of neutrons.
4 - relative atomic mass of the Actinium isotope (isotopic mass including electrons) and the mass of the atomic nucleus in square brackets (nuclear mass, nuclide mass without electrons), each related to 12C = 12.00000 [2]. In addition, the mass excess is given in MeV.
5 - nuclear spin I, unit: h/2π.
6 - source nuclides: Possible, assumed or actual source nuclides (mother nuclides, parent nuclides). If applicable, the corresponding decay modes can be found in the data for the respective starting nuclide.
7 - isotope notation in short form.
8 - decay: half-live of the Actinium isotope (a = years; ; d = days; h = hours; min = minutes; s = seconds).
9 - decay mode: type of decay into the respective daughter nuclides with n = neutron emission; p = proton emission; α = alpha decay; β- = beta minus decay with electron emission; EC = electron capture; β+ = positron emission; ε = β+ and/or EC; Iso = isomeric transition; CD = cluster decay; SF = spontaneous decay.
10 - decay probability in percent (%).
11 - decay energy; Particle energy related to decay type.
12 - other information and notes: AL = Adopted Levels (link to external data [1]).
Miscellaneous:
()- Numbers in brackets: uncertainty to represent the spread of the reported value.
~ - Theoretical values or systematic trends.
- unlisted-: Nuclides that have already been mentioned in the literature but for some reason can no longer be found in the current nuclide tables because their discovery e.g. has not confirmed.
Nuclide quantity 1) spin | Nuclear magnetic moment μ/μN | Gyromagnetic ratio {Quadrupole moment} | Resonant frequency v0 bei 1 T | Relative sensitivity H0 = const. v0 = const. 3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
227Ac 100 % 3/2- | + 1,1(1) | 3,5 {+ 1,7(2)} | 5,6 | 0,01131 0,6565 |
1) Quantity Percentage of natural occurrence.
2) Gyromagnetic ratio: 107 rad T-1 s-1
Quadrupole moment: Q [barn] = [100 fm2]
3) Related to 1H = 1,000.
According to the Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV 2018, Germany), the following values (columns 1 to 7) apply to the handling of Actinium radionuclides:
Nuclide | Limit Value | HASS limit | SC | Daughter Nuclides | Half-life | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ac-224+ | 106 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 2.8 h | |||
Ac-225+ | 104 Bq | 10 Bq/g | Fr-221; At-217; Bi-213 Po-213; Tl-209; Pb-209 | 10.0 d | ||
Ac-226+ | 105 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 29.4 h | |||
Ac-227+ | 103 Bq | 0,01 Bq/g | 0,04 TBq | 1 Bq cm-2 | Fr-223 | 21.8 a |
Ac-228+ | 106 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 0,03 TBq | 1 Bq cm-2 | Fr-223; Th-227; Ra-223 Rn-219; Po-215; Pb-211 Bi-211; Tl-207; Po-211 | 6.2 h |
Ac-228 | 106 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 6 × 109 Bq | 1 Bq/cm2 | 6.1 h |
(HASS = High-Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources; SC = surface contamination)
Properties of the Actinium nucleides
[1] - NuDat: National Nuclear Data Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory, based on ENSDF and the Nuclear Wallet Cards.
[2] - G. Audi et. al.: The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties. Nuclear Physics, (2003), DOI 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001.
[3] - Live Chart of Nuclides. Nuclear structure and decay data.
Actinium: NMR properties - 227Ac-NMR
[4] - N. J. Stone: Table of nuclear magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments. Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, (2005), DOI 10.1016/j.adt.2005.04.001.
[5] - Pekka Pyykkö: Year-2008 nuclear quadrupole moments. Molecular Physics, (2008), DOI 10.1080/00268970802018367.
[6] - Pekka Pyykkö: Year-2017 nuclear quadrupole moments. Molecular Physics, (2018), DOI 10.1080/00268976.2018.1426131.
[7] - N. J. Stone: Table of recommended nuclear magnetic dipole moments. IAEA, (2019).
More sources:
[8] - Isotopic abundances, atomic weights and isotopic masses: see respective keyword.
[9] - C. Fry, M. Thoennessen:
Discovery of actinium, thorium, protactinium, and uranium isotopes.
In: Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, (2013), DOI 10.1016/j.adt.2012.03.002.
Last update: 2022-12-08
Perma link: https://www.chemlin.org/chemical-elements/actinium-isotopes.php
© 1996 - 2024 ChemLin