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Isotopes of Copper

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


Content

Copper isotopes

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.

 

Naturally Occurring Copper Isotopes

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 maQuantityHalf-lifeSpin
Copper
Isotopic mixture
63,546 u100 %
Isotope 63Cu62,929598(4) u69,15(15) %stable3/2-
Isotope 65Cu64,927790(5) u30,85(15) %stable3/2-

 

Isotope Table: Copper

The two following tables list the most important data and properties of the Copper isotopes. Further information on the individual Copper 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
Copper-535329Cu2452.98575(54) u
[52.9698416 u]
{-13.27379 MeV}
(3/2-)
Copper-545429Cu2553.97701(43) u
[53.9611016 u]
{-21.41505 MeV}
3+
Copper-555529Cu2654.96604(17) u
[54.9501316 u]
{-31.63354 MeV}
3/2-
Copper-565629Cu2755.958515(16) u
[55.9426066 u]
{-38.64303 MeV}
(4+)
Copper-575729Cu2856.9492118(6) u
[56.9333034 u]
{-47.3089 MeV}
3/2-57Zn
Copper-585829Cu2957.9445324(6) u
[57.928624 u]
{-51.66774 MeV}
1+58Zn
Copper-595929Cu3058.9394968(6) u
[58.9235884 u]
{-56.35837 MeV}
3/2-59Zn
Copper-606029Cu3159.9373639(17) u
[59.9214555 u]
{-58.34515 MeV}
2+60Zn
Copper-616129Cu3260.9334574(10) u
[60.917549 u]
{-61.98403 MeV}
3/2-61Zn
Copper-626229Cu3361.9325949(7) u
[61.9166865 u]
{-62.78745 MeV}
1+62Zn
Copper-636329Cu3462.929598(4) u
[62.9136896 u]
{-65.57904 MeV}
3/2-63Zn
63Ni
Copper-646429Cu3563.9297640(5) u
[63.9138556 u]
{-65.42441 MeV}
1+64Zn
64Ni
Copper-656529Cu3664.927790(5) u
[64.9118816 u]
{-67.26318 MeV}
3/2-65Zn
65Ni
Copper-666629Cu3765.9288688(7) u
[65.9129604 u]
{-66.25829 MeV}
1+66Ni
Copper-66m66m29Cu3765.9288688(7) u
[65.9129604 u]
{-66.25829 MeV}
(6)-
Copper-676729Cu3866.9277295(10) u
[66.9118211 u]
{-67.31954 MeV}
3/2-67Ni
Copper-686829Cu3967.9296109(17) u
[67.9137025 u]
{-65.56702 MeV}
1+68Ni
Copper-68m68m29Cu3967.9296109(17) u
[67.9137025 u]
{-65.56702 MeV}
6-
Copper-696929Cu4068.9294293(15) u
[68.9135209 u]
{-65.73618 MeV}
3/2-69Ni
Copper-69m69m29Cu4068.9294293(15) u
[68.9135209 u]
{-65.73618 MeV}
(13/2+)
Copper-707029Cu4169.9323921(12) u
[69.9164837 u]
{-62.97635 MeV}
6-70Ni
Copper-70m170m129Cu4169.9323921(12) u
[69.9164837 u]
{-62.97635 MeV}
3-
Copper-70m270m229Cu4169.9323921(12) u
[69.9164837 u]
{-62.97635 MeV}
1+
Copper-717129Cu4270.9326768(16) u
[70.9167684 u]
{-62.71116 MeV}
3/2(-)
Copper-71m71m29Cu4270.9326768(16) u
[70.9167684 u]
{-62.71116 MeV}
(19/2-)
Copper-727229Cu4371.9358203(15) u
[71.9199119 u]
{-59.78301 MeV}
2-
Copper-727229Cu4371.9358203(15) u
[71.9199119 u]
{-59.78301 MeV}
(6-)
Copper-737329Cu4472.9366744(21) u
[72.920766 u]
{-58.98742 MeV}
3/2-73Ni
Copper-747429Cu4573.939875(7) u
[73.9239666 u]
{-56.00608 MeV}
2-74Ni
Copper-757529Cu4674.9415226(25) u
[74.9256142 u]
{-54.47135 MeV}
5/2(-)
Copper-75m175m129Cu4674.9415226(25) u
[74.9256142 u]
{-54.47135 MeV}
(1/2-,3/2-)
Copper-75m275m229Cu4674.9415226(25) u
[74.9256142 u]
{-54.47135 MeV}
(1/2-,3/2-)
Copper-767629Cu4775.945275(7) u
[75.9293666 u]
{-50.97601 MeV}
3-
Copper-76m76m29Cu4775.945275(7) u
[75.9293666 u]
{-50.97601 MeV}
Copper-777729Cu4876.94780(16) u
[76.9318916 u]
{-48.62399 MeV}
5/2-
Copper-787829Cu4977.95223(54) u
[77.9363216 u]
{-44.49747 MeV}
(4-,5-,6-)
Copper-797929Cu5078.95519(32) u
[78.9392816 u]
{-41.74025 MeV}
Copper-808029Cu5179.96114(43) u
[79.9452316 u]
{-36.19786 MeV}
Copper-818129Cu5280.96627(54) u
[80.9503616 u]
{-31.41929 MeV}
Copper-828229Cu5381.97282(64) u
[81.9569116 u]
{-25.31801 MeV}

 

Radioactive Decay Properties

IsotopeRadioactive DecayExtern
Half-lifeDecay ModeProbabilityEnergy
789101112
Cu-53130 nsp → 52Ni?AL
Cu-5475 nsp → 53Ni?AL
Cu-5540 msβ+55Ni
p → 54Ni
EC, p 54Co

?
15(4) %
13.70(16) MeV

AL
Cu-5693(3) msβ+56Ni
p → 54Ni
< 100 %
0.40(12) %
15.265(15) MeV
AL
Cu-57196.3(7) msEC/β+57Ni100 %8.7749(8) MeVAL
Cu-583.204(7) sEC/β+58Ni100 %8.5610(7) MeVAL
Cu-5981.5(5) sEC/β+59Ni100 %4.7984(7) MeVAL
Cu-6023.7(4) minEC/β+60Ni100 %6.1280(17) MeVAL
Cu-613.339(8) hEC/β+61Ni100 %2.2378(10) MeVAL
Cu-629.67(3) minEC/β+62Ni100 %3.9589(8) MeVAL
Cu-63stableAL
Cu-6412.7006(20) hβ-64Zn
EC/β+64Ni
38.5(3) %
61.5(3) %
0.5796(6) MeV
1.6746(6) MeV
AL
Cu-65stableAL
Cu-665.120(14) minβ-66Zn100 %2.6409(9) MeVAL
Cu-66m600(20) ns
Cu-6761.83(12) hβ-67Zn100 %0.5608(8) MeVAL
Cu-6830.9(6) sβ-68Zn100 %4.4401(18) MeVAL
Cu-68m3.75(5) minIso → 68Cu
β-68Zn
86(2) %
14(2) %

AL
Cu-692.85(15) minβ-69Zn100 %2.6816(16) MeVAL
Cu-69m357(2) ns
Cu-7044.5(2) sβ-70Zn100 %6.588(4) MeVAL
Cu-70m133(2) sβ-70Zn
Iso → 70Cu
52(9) %
48(9) %

AL
Cu-70m26.6(2) sβ-70Zn
Iso → 70Cu
93.2(9) %
6.8(9) %

AL
Cu-7119.4(16) sβ-71Zn100 %4.618(3) MeVAL
Cu-71m0.271(14) μs
Cu-726.63(3) sβ-72Zn100 %8.3625(26) MeVAL
Cu-72m176(3) μs
Cu-734.2(3) sβ-73Zn
β-, n → 72Zn
100 %
?
6.6060(27) MeV
AL
Cu-741.63(5) sβ-74Zn
β-, n → 73Zn
100 %
?
9.751(7) MeV
1.516(6) MeV
AL
Cu-751.224(3) sβ-75Zn
β-, n → 74Zn
96.5 %
3.5(6) %
8.088(3) MeV
3.214(3) MeV
AL
Cu-75m1310(8) nsIso → 75Cu100 %
Cu-75m2149(6) nsIso → 75Cu100 %
Cu-76641(6) msβ-76Zn
β-, n → 75Zn
97 %
3(2) %
11.327(7) MeV
3.512(17) MeV
AL
Cu-76m1.27(30) sβ-76Zn100 %AL
Cu-77467.9(21) msβ-77Zn
β-, n → 76Zn
69.7 %
30.3(20) %
10.16(15) MeV
5.61(15)
AL
Cu-78335(11) msβ-78Zn
β-, n → 77Zn
35
65(8) %
12.99(50) MeV
6.22(50) MeV
AL
Cu-79241.0(32) msβ-79Zn
β-, n → 78Zn
β-, 2n → 77Zn
34 %
66(12) %
?
11.69(30) MeV
7.67(30) MeV
AL
Cu-80113.6 msβ-80Zn
β-, n → 79Zn
β-, 2n → 78Zn
100 %
?
?
15.45(40) MeV
9.16(40) MeV
AL
Cu-8173.2(68) msβ-81Zn
β-, n → 80Zn
β-, 2n → 79Zn
100 %
?
?
14.78(59) MeV
12.16(50) MeV
AL
Cu-8233 msβ-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.

 

NMR active Copper 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)
63Cu
69,15(15) %
3/2-
+2,2259(4)7,1088
{-0,220(15)}
11,31880,09393
1,3292
65Cu
30,85(15) %
3/2-
2,3844(4)7,6104
{- 0,204(14)}
12,10270,11484
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.

 

Radiation Protection

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

NuclideLimit ValueHASS limitSCDaughter NuclidesHalf-life
Cu-60105 Bq10 Bq/g23.7 min
Cu-61106 Bq10 Bq/g3.3 h
Cu-64106 Bq100 Bq/g0,3 TBq10 Bq cm-212.7 h
Cu-67106 Bq100 Bq/g0,7 TBq61.9 h

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

 

Literature Sources and References

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, 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).

 


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Last update: 2022-12-12


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