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Isotopes of Cobalt

List, data and properties of all known isotopes of Cobalt.

Content
Atomic properties
Decay properties
NMR active nuclides
Radiation protection
References
Cobalt isotopes

All atomic nuclei of the chemical element cobalt are summarized under cobalt isotopes; these all consist of an atomic nucleus with 27 protons and, in the uncharged state, 27 electrons. The difference between each cobalt isotope is based on the number of neutrons in the nucleus. The spelling cobalt is also often found.

 

Naturally Occurring Cobalt Isotopes

The element cobalt occurs in nature only in the form of a single, stable isotope with the standard atomic mass 58.933195(5) u: Co-59.

All other cobalt isotopes are unstable radionuclides. Some of these radioisotopes are used in medicine, industry, research and food irradiation.

 

 

Cobalt-60

With a half-life of 5.3 years, cobalt-60 is the longest-lived radioactive cobalt isotope and is artificially activated by neutron activation (e.g. with 252 Cf or in the neutron flux of nuclear reactors) from the natural cobalt-59. Co-60 is widely used in medicine and industry.

The so-called cobalt gun or cobalt bomb is a radiation device for radiation therapy of cancer diseases and uses Co-60 as a gamma radiation source. Other areas of application are the preservation or sterilization of food (cold pasteurization) and medical products, non-destructive radiographic testing for material tests, density tests, etc.

 

Isotope Table: Cobalt

The two following tables list the most important data and properties of the Cobalt isotopes. Further information on the individual Cobalt isotopes is listed on separate pages and can be accessed via the link in column 1.

 

Atomic Properties

Isotope
Nuclide		ENAtomic Mass
[Nuclear Mass]
{Mass Excess}		Spin I
(h/2π)		Parent
123456
Cobalt-464627Co19[46] u
[45.9851887 u]
{0 MeV}
Cobalt-474727Co2047.01149(54) u
[46.9966787 u]
{10.70287 MeV}		7/2-~48Ni
Cobalt-484827Co2148.00176(43) u
[47.9869487 u]
{1.63943 MeV}		6+~
Cobalt-494927Co2248.98972(28) u
[48.9749087 u]
{-9.57576 MeV}		7/2-~49Ni
Cobalt-505027Co2349.98107(43) u
[49.9662587 u]
{-17.63318 MeV}		(6+)50Ni
Cobalt-515127Co2450.97065(5) u
[50.9558387 u]
{-27.33935 MeV}		7/2-51Ni
Cobalt-525227Co2551.963112(9) u
[51.9483007 u]
{-34.36095 MeV}		(6+)52Ni
Cobalt-52m52m27Co2551.963112(9) u
[51.9483007 u]
{-34.36095 MeV}		2+
Cobalt-535327Co2652.9542032(18) u
[52.9393919 u]
{-42.65944 MeV}		(7/2-)53Ni
Cobalt-53m53m27Co2652.9542032(18) u
[52.9393919 u]
{-42.65944 MeV}		(19/2-)
Cobalt-545427Co2753.9484592(4) u
[53.9336479 u]
{-48.00995 MeV}		0+54Ni
Cobalt-54m54m27Co2753.9484592(4) u
[53.9336479 u]
{-48.00995 MeV}		7+
Cobalt-555527Co2854.9419965(5) u
[54.9271852 u]
{-54.02991 MeV}		7/2-55Ni
Cobalt-565627Co2955.9398380(5) u
[55.9250267 u]
{-56.04054 MeV}		4+56Ni
Cobalt-575727Co3056.9362898(6) u
[56.9214785 u]
{-59.34567 MeV}		7/2-57Ni
Cobalt-585827Co3157.9357513(12) u
[57.92094 u]
{-59.84728 MeV}		2+
Cobalt-58m158m127Co3157.9357513(12) u
[57.92094 u]
{-59.84728 MeV}		5+
Cobalt-58m258m227Co3157.9357513(12) u
[57.92094 u]
{-59.84728 MeV}		4+
Cobalt-595927Co3258.933194(4) u
[58.9183827 u]
{-62.22939 MeV}		7/2-59Ni
59Fe
Cobalt-606027Co3359.9338157(5) u
[59.9190044 u]
{-61.65028 MeV}		5+60Fe
Cobalt-60m60m27Co3359.9338157(5) u
[59.9190044 u]
{-61.65028 MeV}		2+
Cobalt-616127Co3460.9324760(9) u
[60.9176647 u]
{-62.8982 MeV}		7/2-61Fe
Cobalt-626227Co3561.934058(20) u
[61.9192467 u]
{-61.42458 MeV}		(2)+62Fe
Cobalt-62m62m27Co3561.934058(20) u
[61.9192467 u]
{-61.42458 MeV}		(5)+
Cobalt-636327Co3662.93360(20) u
[62.9187887 u]
{-61.8512 MeV}		7/2-63Fe
Cobalt-646427Co3763.935810(21) u
[63.9209987 u]
{-59.7926 MeV}		1+64Fe
Cobalt-656527Co3864.9364621(22) u
[64.9216508 u]
{-59.18517 MeV}		(7/2)-65Fe
Cobalt-666627Co3965.939443(15) u
[65.9246317 u]
{-56.40848 MeV}		(3+)66Fe
Cobalt-66m166m127Co3965.939443(15) u
[65.9246317 u]
{-56.40848 MeV}		(5+)
Cobalt-66m266m227Co3965.939443(15) u
[65.9246317 u]
{-56.40848 MeV}		(8-)
Cobalt-676727Co4066.940610(7) u
[66.9257987 u]
{-55.32143 MeV}		(7/2-)67Fe
Cobalt-686827Co4167.94425(20) u
[67.9294387 u]
{-51.93079 MeV}		(7-)68Fe
Cobalt-68m68m27Co4167.94425(20) u
[67.9294387 u]
{-51.93079 MeV}		1+
Cobalt-696927Co4268.94602(15) u
[68.9312087 u]
{-50.28205 MeV}		(7/2-)69Fe
Cobalt-707027Co4369.94994(32) u
[69.9351287 u]
{-46.63059 MeV}		(6-,7-)70Fe
Cobalt-70m70m27Co4369.94994(32) u
[69.9351287 u]
{-46.63059 MeV}		(3+)
Cobalt-717127Co4470.95237(50) u
[70.9375587 u]
{-44.36706 MeV}		(7/2-)71Fe
Cobalt-727227Co4571.95684(43) u
[71.9420287 u]
{-40.20328 MeV}		(6-,7-)72Fe
Cobalt-737327Co4672.95983(43) u
[72.9450187 u]
{-37.41811 MeV}		(7/2-)~
Cobalt-747427Co4773.96477(54) u
[73.9499587 u]
{-32.81653 MeV}		0+
Cobalt-757527Co4874.96817(54) u
[74.9533587 u]
{-29.64945 MeV}		(7/2-)~
Cobalt-767627Co4975.97369(64) u
[75.9588787 u]
{-24.50761 MeV}

 

Radioactive Decay Properties

IsotopeRadioactive DecayExtern
Half-lifeDecay ModeProbabilityEnergy
789101112
Co-46p → 45Fe
Co-47p → 46FeAL
Co-48p → 47FeAL
Co-49< 35 nsp und β+ AL
Co-5038(2) msβ+, p → 49Mn
EC, 2p → 48Mn
β+ → 50Fe		70.5(7) %
?
?

16.85(40) MeV		AL
Co-5168.8(19) msEC β+ → 51Fe
EC p → 50Mn		> 96.2 %
< 3.8 %		12.86(5) MeV
AL
Co-52104(7) msEC β+ → 52Fe
β+, p → 51Mn		100 %
?		13.696(19) MeV
AL
Co-52m104 msAL
Co-53240(9) msEC β+ → 53Fe100 %8.2881(24) MeVAL
Co-53m247(12) msEC β+ → 53Fe
p → 52Fe		98.5 %
1.5 %
AL
Co-54193.28(7) msEC β+ → 54Fe100 %8.2445(5) MeVAL
Co-54m1.48(2) minEC β+ → 54Fe100 %8.445(5) MeVAL
Co-5517.53(3) hEC β+ → 55Fe100 %3.4514(5) MeVAL
Co-5677.236(26) dEC β+ → 56Fe100 %4.5666(5) MeVAL
Co-57271.74(6) dEC → 57Fe100 %0.8364(6) MeVAL
Co-5870.86(6) dEC β+ → 58Fe100 %2.3080(12) MeVAL
Co-58m19.10(9) hIso → 58Co100 %AL
Co-58m210.5(3) μsIso → 58Co100 %AL
Co-59stableAL
Co-605.2713(8) aβ- → 60Ni100 %2.82281(21) MeVAL
Co-60m10.467(6) minIso → 60Co
β- → 60Ni		99.75(3) %
0.25(3) %		0.059 MeV
1.56 MeV		AL
Co-611.649(5) hβ- → 61Ni100 %1.3239(8) MeVAL
Co-621.54(10) minβ- → 62Ni100 %5.322(19) MeVAL
Co-62m13.86(9) minβ- → 62Ni
Iso → 62Ni		> 99 %
< 1 %
AL
Co-6327.4(5) sβ- → 63Ni100 %3.661(19) MeVAL
Co-640.30(3) sβ- → 64Ni100 %7.307(20) MeVAL
Co-651.16(3) sβ- → 65Ni100 %5.9405(21) MeVAL
Co-660.20(2) sβ- → 66Ni100 %9.598(14) MeVAL
Co-66m11.21(1) μsIso AL
Co-66m2100 μsIso AL
Co-67425(20) msβ- → 67Ni100 %8.421(7) MeVAL
Co-680.20(2) sβ- → 68Ni100 %11.53(19) MeVAL
Co-68m1.6(3) sβ- → 68Ni100 %AL
Co-69227(11) msβ- → 69Ni100 %9.70(14) MeVAL
Co-70112(7) msβ- → 70Ni
β-, n → 69Ni		100 %
?		12.58(39) MeV
5.28(30) MeV		AL
Co-70m0.47(5) sβ- → 70Ni100 %100 %AL
Co-7180(3) msβ- → 71Ni
β-, n → 70Ni		94 %
6(2) %		11.04(47) MeV
6.77(47) MeV		AL
Co-7259.9(17) msβ- → 72Ni
β-, n → 71Ni		94 %
6 %		14.04(40) MeV
7.13(40) MeV		AL
Co-7340.7(13) msβ- → 73Ni
β-, n → 72Ni
β-, 2n → 71Ni
22(8) %
?		12.69(40) MeV
8.74(40) MeV
AL
Co-7431.3(15) msβ- → 74Ni
β-, n → 73Ni
β-, 2n → 72Ni
18(15) %
?		15.64(54) MeV
9.22(50) MeV
AL
Co-7530(11) msβ- → 75Ni
β-, n → 74Ni
β-, 2n → 73Ni
< 16 %
?		14.38(58) MeV
10.74(54) MeV
AL
Co-7621.7 msβ- → 76Ni
β-, n → 75Ni
β-, 2n → 74Ni
?
?		17.12(72) MeV
11.45(67) 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 Cobalt 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 Cobalt 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.

 

NMR active Cobalt nuclides

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)
59Co
100 %
7/2-		+4,627(9)6,317
{+ 0,42(3)}		10,0770,27841
4,9703

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.

 

Radiation Protection

According to the Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV 2018, Germany), the following values (columns 1 to 7) apply to the handling of Cobalt radionuclides:

NuclideLimit ValueHASS limitSCDaughter NuclidesHalf-life
Co-55106 Bq10 Bq/g0,02 TBq1 Bq cm-2N-6017.5 h
Co-56105 Bq0,1 Bq/g0,02 TBq1 Bq cm-277.3 d
Co-57106 Bq1 Bq/g0,7 TBq10 Bq cm-2271.8 d
Co-58106 Bq1 Bq/g0,07 TBq1 Bq cm-270.9 d
Co-58m107 Bq104 Bq/g0,07 TBq10 Bq cm-28.9 h
Co-60105 Bq0,1 Bq/g0,03 TBq1 Bq cm-25.3 a
Co-60m106 Bq1000 Bq/g100 Bq cm-210.5 min
Co-61106 Bq100 Bq/g10 Bq cm-21.7 h
Co-62m+105 Bq10 Bq/g1 Bq cm-213.9 min

(HASS = High-Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources; SC = surface contamination)

 

Literature Sources and References

Properties of the Cobalt 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.

Cobalt: NMR properties - 59Co-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] - T.Szymanski, M.Thoennessen:
Discovery of the cobalt isotopes.
In: Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, (2010), DOI 10.1016/j.adt.2010.06.006.

 

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