All atomic nuclei of the chemical element copper are summarized under copper isotopes; these consist of an atomic nucleus with 29 protons and in the uncharged state of 29 electrons. The difference between the individual copper isotopes lies in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
Natural copper deposits are composed of the stable isotopes Cu-63 and Cu-65. In addition, 27 radioisotopes are known.
The following table provides information about the natural isotopic composition of copper:
| Atomic Mass ma | Quantity | Half-life | Spin | |
| Copper Isotopic mixture | 63,546 u | 100 % | ||
| Isotope 63Cu | 62,929598(4) u | 69,15(15) % | stable | 3/2- |
| Isotope 65Cu | 64,927790(5) u | 30,85(15) % | stable | 3/2- |
| Isotope Nuclide | E | N | Atomic Mass [Nuclear Mass] {Mass Excess} | Spin I (h/2π) | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Copper-53 | 5329Cu | 24 | 52.98575(54) u [52.9698416 u] {-13.27379 MeV} | (3/2-) | |
| Copper-54 | 5429Cu | 25 | 53.97701(43) u [53.9611016 u] {-21.41505 MeV} | 3+ | |
| Copper-55 | 5529Cu | 26 | 54.96604(17) u [54.9501316 u] {-31.63354 MeV} | 3/2- | |
| Copper-56 | 5629Cu | 27 | 55.958515(16) u [55.9426066 u] {-38.64303 MeV} | (4+) | |
| Copper-57 | 5729Cu | 28 | 56.9492118(6) u [56.9333034 u] {-47.3089 MeV} | 3/2- | 57Zn |
| Copper-58 | 5829Cu | 29 | 57.9445324(6) u [57.928624 u] {-51.66774 MeV} | 1+ | 58Zn |
| Copper-59 | 5929Cu | 30 | 58.9394968(6) u [58.9235884 u] {-56.35837 MeV} | 3/2- | 59Zn |
| Copper-60 | 6029Cu | 31 | 59.9373639(17) u [59.9214555 u] {-58.34515 MeV} | 2+ | 60Zn |
| Copper-61 | 6129Cu | 32 | 60.9334574(10) u [60.917549 u] {-61.98403 MeV} | 3/2- | 61Zn |
| Copper-62 | 6229Cu | 33 | 61.9325949(7) u [61.9166865 u] {-62.78745 MeV} | 1+ | 62Zn |
| Copper-63 | 6329Cu | 34 | 62.929598(4) u [62.9136896 u] {-65.57904 MeV} | 3/2- | 63Zn 63Ni |
| Copper-64 | 6429Cu | 35 | 63.9297640(5) u [63.9138556 u] {-65.42441 MeV} | 1+ | 64Zn 64Ni |
| Copper-65 | 6529Cu | 36 | 64.927790(5) u [64.9118816 u] {-67.26318 MeV} | 3/2- | 65Zn 65Ni |
| Copper-66 | 6629Cu | 37 | 65.9288688(7) u [65.9129604 u] {-66.25829 MeV} | 1+ | 66Ni |
| Copper-66m | 66m29Cu | 37 | 65.9288688(7) u [65.9129604 u] {-66.25829 MeV} | (6)- | |
| Copper-67 | 6729Cu | 38 | 66.9277295(10) u [66.9118211 u] {-67.31954 MeV} | 3/2- | 67Ni |
| Copper-68 | 6829Cu | 39 | 67.9296109(17) u [67.9137025 u] {-65.56702 MeV} | 1+ | 68Ni |
| Copper-68m | 68m29Cu | 39 | 67.9296109(17) u [67.9137025 u] {-65.56702 MeV} | 6- | |
| Copper-69 | 6929Cu | 40 | 68.9294293(15) u [68.9135209 u] {-65.73618 MeV} | 3/2- | 69Ni |
| Copper-69m | 69m29Cu | 40 | 68.9294293(15) u [68.9135209 u] {-65.73618 MeV} | (13/2+) | |
| Copper-70 | 7029Cu | 41 | 69.9323921(12) u [69.9164837 u] {-62.97635 MeV} | 6- | 70Ni |
| Copper-70m1 | 70m129Cu | 41 | 69.9323921(12) u [69.9164837 u] {-62.97635 MeV} | 3- | |
| Copper-70m2 | 70m229Cu | 41 | 69.9323921(12) u [69.9164837 u] {-62.97635 MeV} | 1+ | |
| Copper-71 | 7129Cu | 42 | 70.9326768(16) u [70.9167684 u] {-62.71116 MeV} | 3/2(-) | |
| Copper-71m | 71m29Cu | 42 | 70.9326768(16) u [70.9167684 u] {-62.71116 MeV} | (19/2-) | |
| Copper-72 | 7229Cu | 43 | 71.9358203(15) u [71.9199119 u] {-59.78301 MeV} | 2- | |
| Copper-72 | 7229Cu | 43 | 71.9358203(15) u [71.9199119 u] {-59.78301 MeV} | (6-) | |
| Copper-73 | 7329Cu | 44 | 72.9366744(21) u [72.920766 u] {-58.98742 MeV} | 3/2- | 73Ni |
| Copper-74 | 7429Cu | 45 | 73.939875(7) u [73.9239666 u] {-56.00608 MeV} | 2- | 74Ni |
| Copper-75 | 7529Cu | 46 | 74.9415226(25) u [74.9256142 u] {-54.47135 MeV} | 5/2(-) | |
| Copper-75m1 | 75m129Cu | 46 | 74.9415226(25) u [74.9256142 u] {-54.47135 MeV} | (1/2-,3/2-) | |
| Copper-75m2 | 75m229Cu | 46 | 74.9415226(25) u [74.9256142 u] {-54.47135 MeV} | (1/2-,3/2-) | |
| Copper-76 | 7629Cu | 47 | 75.945275(7) u [75.9293666 u] {-50.97601 MeV} | 3- | |
| Copper-76m | 76m29Cu | 47 | 75.945275(7) u [75.9293666 u] {-50.97601 MeV} | ||
| Copper-77 | 7729Cu | 48 | 76.94780(16) u [76.9318916 u] {-48.62399 MeV} | 5/2- | |
| Copper-78 | 7829Cu | 49 | 77.95223(54) u [77.9363216 u] {-44.49747 MeV} | (4-,5-,6-) | |
| Copper-79 | 7929Cu | 50 | 78.95519(32) u [78.9392816 u] {-41.74025 MeV} | ||
| Copper-80 | 8029Cu | 51 | 79.96114(43) u [79.9452316 u] {-36.19786 MeV} | ||
| Copper-81 | 8129Cu | 52 | 80.96627(54) u [80.9503616 u] {-31.41929 MeV} | ||
| Copper-82 | 8229Cu | 53 | 81.97282(64) u [81.9569116 u] {-25.31801 MeV} |
| Isotope | Radioactive Decay | Extern | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-life | Decay Mode | Probability | Energy | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Cu-53 | 130 ns | p → 52Ni | ? | AL | |
| Cu-54 | 75 ns | p → 53Ni | ? | AL | |
| Cu-55 | 40 ms | β+ → 55Ni p → 54Ni EC, p 54Co | ? 15(4) % | 13.70(16) MeV | AL |
| Cu-56 | 93(3) ms | β+ → 56Ni p → 54Ni | < 100 % 0.40(12) % | 15.265(15) MeV | AL |
| Cu-57 | 196.3(7) ms | EC/β+ → 57Ni | 100 % | 8.7749(8) MeV | AL |
| Cu-58 | 3.204(7) s | EC/β+ → 58Ni | 100 % | 8.5610(7) MeV | AL |
| Cu-59 | 81.5(5) s | EC/β+ → 59Ni | 100 % | 4.7984(7) MeV | AL |
| Cu-60 | 23.7(4) min | EC/β+ → 60Ni | 100 % | 6.1280(17) MeV | AL |
| Cu-61 | 3.339(8) h | EC/β+ → 61Ni | 100 % | 2.2378(10) MeV | AL |
| Cu-62 | 9.67(3) min | EC/β+ → 62Ni | 100 % | 3.9589(8) MeV | AL |
| Cu-63 | stable | AL | |||
| Cu-64 | 12.7006(20) h | β- → 64Zn ε → 64Ni | 38.48(3) % 61.52(3) % | 0.5796(6) MeV 1.6746(6) MeV | AL |
| Cu-65 | stable | AL | |||
| Cu-66 | 5.120(14) min | β- → 66Zn | 100 % | 2.6409(9) MeV | AL |
| Cu-66m | 600(20) ns | ||||
| Cu-67 | 61.83(12) h | β- → 67Zn | 100 % | 0.5608(8) MeV | AL |
| Cu-68 | 30.9(6) s | β- → 68Zn | 100 % | 4.4401(18) MeV | AL |
| Cu-68m | 3.75(5) min | Iso → 68Cu β- → 68Zn | 86(2) % 14(2) % | AL | |
| Cu-69 | 2.85(15) min | β- → 69Zn | 100 % | 2.6816(16) MeV | AL |
| Cu-69m | 357(2) ns | ||||
| Cu-70 | 44.5(2) s | β- → 70Zn | 100 % | 6.588(4) MeV | AL |
| Cu-70m1 | 33(2) s | β- → 70Zn Iso → 70Cu | 52(9) % 48(9) % | AL | |
| Cu-70m2 | 6.6(2) s | β- → 70Zn Iso → 70Cu | 93.2(9) % 6.8(9) % | AL | |
| Cu-71 | 19.4(16) s | β- → 71Zn | 100 % | 4.618(3) MeV | AL |
| Cu-71m | 0.271(14) μs | ||||
| Cu-72 | 6.63(3) s | β- → 72Zn | 100 % | 8.3625(26) MeV | AL |
| Cu-72m | 176(3) μs | ||||
| Cu-73 | 4.2(3) s | β- → 73Zn β-, n → 72Zn | 100 % ? | 6.6060(27) MeV | AL |
| Cu-74 | 1.63(5) s | β- → 74Zn β-, n → 73Zn | 100 % ? | 9.751(7) MeV 1.516(6) MeV | AL |
| Cu-75 | 1.224(3) s | β- → 75Zn β-, n → 74Zn | 96.5 % 3.5(6) % | 8.088(3) MeV 3.214(3) MeV | AL |
| Cu-75m1 | 310(8) ns | Iso → 75Cu | 100 % | ||
| Cu-75m2 | 149(6) ns | Iso → 75Cu | 100 % | ||
| Cu-76 | 641(6) ms | β- → 76Zn β-, n → 75Zn | 97 % 3(2) % | 11.327(7) MeV 3.512(17) MeV | AL |
| Cu-76m | 1.27(30) s | β- → 76Zn | 100 % | AL | |
| Cu-77 | 467.9(21) ms | β- → 77Zn β-, n → 76Zn | 69.7 % 30.3(20) % | 10.16(15) MeV 5.61(15) | AL |
| Cu-78 | 335(11) ms | β- → 78Zn β-, n → 77Zn | 35 65(8) % | 12.99(50) MeV 6.22(50) MeV | AL |
| Cu-79 | 241.0(32) ms | β- → 79Zn β-, n → 78Zn β-, 2n → 77Zn | 34 % 66(12) % ? | 11.69(30) MeV 7.67(30) MeV | AL |
| Cu-80 | 113.6 ms | β- → 80Zn β-, n → 79Zn β-, 2n → 78Zn | 100 % ? ? | 15.45(40) MeV 9.16(40) MeV | AL |
| Cu-81 | 73.2(68) ms | β- → 81Zn β-, n → 80Zn β-, 2n → 79Zn | 100 % ? ? | 14.78(59) MeV 12.16(50) MeV | AL |
| Cu-82 | 33 ms | β- → 82Zn β-, n → 81Zn β-, 2n → 80Zn | 100 % ? ? | 16.99(60) MeV 12.81(60) 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 Copper 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 Copper 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63Cu 69,15(15) % 3/2- | +2,2259(4) | 7,1088 {-0,220(15)} | 11,3188 | 0,09393 1,3292 |
| 64Cu 1+ | -0,2166(4) | {0,075(9)} | ||
| 65Cu 30,85(15) % 3/2- | 2,3844(4) | 7,6104 {- 0,204(14)} | 12,1027 | 0,11484 1,4213 |
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 Copper radionuclides:
| Nuclide | Limit Value | HASS limit | SC | Daughter Nuclides | Half-life | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cu-60 | 105 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 23.7 min | |||
| Cu-61 | 106 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 3.3 h | |||
| Cu-64 | 106 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 0,3 TBq | 10 Bq cm-2 | 12.7 h | |
| Cu-67 | 106 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 0,7 TBq | 61.9 h | ||
(HASS = High-Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources; SC = surface contamination)
Properties of the Copper 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.
Copper: NMR properties - 63Cu-NMR, 64Cu-NMR, 65Cu-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] - Moritz Bigalke:
Copper and zinc stable isotope ratios as tracers of biogeochemical processes, sources and transport of Cu and Zn in soils.
In: Dissertation Biogeochemie, Universität Mainz, (2010).
Last update: 2022-12-12
Perma link: https://www.chemlin.org/chemical-elements/copper-isotopes.php
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