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Isotopes of Mercury

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

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

All atomic nuclei of the chemical element mercury are summarized under mercury isotopes; these all consist of an atomic nucleus with 80 protons and, in the uncharged state, 80 electrons. The difference between each isotope of mercury is based on the number of neutrons in the nucleus.

 

Naturally Occurring Mercury Isotopes

The natural mercury deposits on earth consist of a mix of seven different, stable isotopes with the following percentage composition:

Atomic Mass maQuantityHalf-lifeSpin
Mercury
Isotopic mixture		200,592 u100 %
Isotope 196Hg195,96583(2) u0,15(1) %stable0+
Isotope 198Hg197,966769(3) u10,04(3) %stable0+
Isotope 199Hg198,968281(3) u16,94(12) %stable1/2-
Isotope 200Hg199,968327(3) u23,14(9) %stable0+
Isotope 201Hg200,970303(5) u13,17(9) %stable3/2-
Isotope 202Hg201,970643(5) u29,74(13) %stable0+
Isotope 204Hg203,973494(3) u6,82(4) %stable0+

 

Alle anderen bekannten und charakterisierten Quecksilber-Nuklide sind instabil; mit einer Halbwertszeit von 444 Jahren ist Quecksilber-194 das langlebigste Radioisotop. Technisch besitzen die künstlichen Quecksilbernuklide keinerlei Bedeutung.

 

Isotope Table: Mercury

The two following tables list the most important data and properties of the Mercury isotopes. Further information on the individual Mercury 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
Mercury-17117180Hg91171.00374(32) u
[170.9598584 u]
{3.48379 MeV}
Mercury-17217280Hg92171.99886(16) u
[171.9549784 u]
{-1.0619 MeV}		0+
Mercury-17317380Hg93172.99709(21) u
[172.9532084 u]
{-2.71065 MeV}		(7/2-)
Mercury-17417480Hg94173.992871(21) u
[173.9489894 u]
{-6.64062 MeV}
Mercury-17517580Hg95174.99144(8) u
[174.9475584 u]
{-7.97359 MeV}		(7/2-)
Mercury-17617680Hg96175.987348(12) u
[175.9434664 u]
{-11.78526 MeV}		0+180Pb
Mercury-17717780Hg97176.98628(8) u
[176.9423984 u]
{-12.7801 MeV}		7/2-
Mercury-177m177m80Hg97176.98628(8) u
[176.9423984 u]
{-12.7801 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-17817880Hg98177.982484(12) u
[177.9386024 u]
{-16.31605 MeV}		0+182Pb
Mercury-17917980Hg99178.981827(29) u
[178.9379454 u]
{-16.92804 MeV}		(7/2-)183Pb
Mercury-18018080Hg100179.978260(14) u
[179.9343784 u]
{-20.25068 MeV}		0+184Pb
Mercury-18118180Hg101180.977819(17) u
[180.9339374 u]
{-20.66147 MeV}		1/2-
Mercury-18218280Hg102181.974689(11) u
[181.9308074 u]
{-23.57704 MeV}		0+186Pb
182Tl
Mercury-18318380Hg103182.974445(8) u
[182.9305634 u]
{-23.80433 MeV}		1/2-187Pb
183Tl
Mercury-18418480Hg104183.971713(11) u
[183.9278314 u]
{-26.34917 MeV}		0+188Pb
184Tl
Mercury-18518580Hg105184.971891(15) u
[184.9280094 u]
{-26.18336 MeV}		1/2-189Pb
Mercury-185m185m80Hg105184.971891(15) u
[184.9280094 u]
{-26.18336 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-18618680Hg106185.969362(13) u
[185.9254804 u]
{-28.53911 MeV}		0+190Pb
Mercury-186m186m80Hg106185.969362(13) u
[185.9254804 u]
{-28.53911 MeV}		(8-)
Mercury-18718780Hg107186.969814(15) u
[186.9259324 u]
{-28.11808 MeV}		3/2(-)191Pb
187Tl
Mercury-187m187m80Hg107186.969814(15) u
[186.9259324 u]
{-28.11808 MeV}		13/2(+)
Mercury-18818880Hg108187.967577(13) u
[187.9236954 u]
{-30.20183 MeV}		0+192Pb
188Tl
Mercury-188m188m80Hg108187.967577(13) u
[187.9236954 u]
{-30.20183 MeV}		12+
Mercury-18918980Hg109188.96819(3) u
[188.9243084 u]
{-29.63082 MeV}		3/2-189Tl
Mercury-189m189m80Hg109188.96819(3) u
[188.9243084 u]
{-29.63082 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-19019080Hg110189.966322(17) u
[189.9224404 u]
{-31.37085 MeV}		0+194Pb
190Tl
Mercury-19119180Hg111190.967158(24) u
[190.9232764 u]
{-30.59213 MeV}		3/2(-)191Tl
Mercury-191m191m80Hg111190.967158(24) u
[190.9232764 u]
{-30.59213 MeV}		13/2(+)
Mercury-19219280Hg112191.965634(17) u
[191.9217524 u]
{-32.01172 MeV}		0+192Tl
Mercury-19319380Hg113192.966653(17) u
[192.9227714 u]
{-31.06253 MeV}		3/2(-)193Tl
Mercury-193m193m80Hg113192.966653(17) u
[192.9227714 u]
{-31.06253 MeV}		13/2(+)
Mercury-19419480Hg114193.965449(3) u
[193.9215674 u]
{-32.18405 MeV}		0+194Tl
Mercury-19519580Hg115194.966706(25) u
[194.9228244 u]
{-31.01316 MeV}		1/2-195Tl
Mercury-195m195m80Hg115194.966706(25) u
[194.9228244 u]
{-31.01316 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-19619680Hg116195.96583(2) u
[195.9219484 u]
{-31.82915 MeV}		0+196Tl
196Au
Mercury-19719780Hg117196.967214(3) u
[196.9233324 u]
{-30.53996 MeV}		1/2-197Tl
Mercury-197m197m80Hg117196.967214(3) u
[196.9233324 u]
{-30.53996 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-19819880Hg118197.966769(3) u
[197.9228874 u]
{-30.95448 MeV}		0+198Tl
198Au
202Pb
Mercury-19919980Hg119198.968281(3) u
[198.9243994 u]
{-29.54606 MeV}		1/2-199Tl
199Au
Mercury-199m199m80Hg119198.968281(3) u
[198.9243994 u]
{-29.54606 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-20020080Hg120199.968327(3) u
[199.9244454 u]
{-29.50321 MeV}		0+200Tl
200Au
Mercury-20120180Hg121200.970303(5) u
[200.9264214 u]
{-27.66258 MeV}		3/2-201Tl
201Au
Mercury-201m201m80Hg121200.970303(5) u
[200.9264214 u]
{-27.66258 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-20220280Hg122201.970643(5) u
[201.9267614 u]
{-27.34587 MeV}		0+202Tl
202Au
Mercury-20320380Hg123202.9728723(17) u
[202.9289907 u]
{-25.26929 MeV}		5/2-203Au
Mercury-203m203m80Hg123202.9728723(17) u
[202.9289907 u]
{-25.26929 MeV}
Mercury-20420480Hg124203.973494(3) u
[203.9296124 u]
{-24.69018 MeV}		0+204Tl
204Au
Mercury-20520580Hg125204.976073(4) u
[204.9321914 u]
{-22.28786 MeV}		1/2-205Au
Mercury-205m205m80Hg125204.976073(4) u
[204.9321914 u]
{-22.28786 MeV}		13/2+
Mercury-20620680Hg126205.977514(22) u
[205.9336324 u]
{-20.94557 MeV}		0+210Pb
Mercury-20720780Hg127206.98230(3) u
[206.9384184 u]
{-16.48744 MeV}		(9/2+)
Mercury-20820880Hg128207.98576(3) u
[207.9418784 u]
{-13.26447 MeV}		0+
Mercury-20920980Hg129208.99072(16) u
[208.9468384 u]
{-8.64426 MeV}		(9/2+)
Mercury-21021080Hg130209.99424(21) u
[209.9503584 u]
{-5.36541 MeV}		0+
Mercury-210m1210m180Hg130209.99424(21) u
[209.9503584 u]
{-5.36541 MeV}		(3-)
Mercury-210m2210m280Hg130209.99424(21) u
[209.9503584 u]
{-5.36541 MeV}		(8+)
Mercury-21121180Hg131210.99933(21) u
[210.9554484 u]
{-0.6241 MeV}
Mercury-21221280Hg132212.00296(32) u
[211.9590784 u]
{2.75722 MeV}		0+
Mercury-21321380Hg133213.00823(32) u
[212.9643484 u]
{7.6662 MeV}
Mercury-21421480Hg134214.01200(43) u
[213.9681184 u]
{11.17793 MeV}		0+
Mercury-21521580Hg135215.01740(43) u
[214.9735184 u]
{16.208 MeV}
Mercury-21621680Hg136216.02132(43) u
[215.9774384 u]
{19.85945 MeV}		0+

 

Radioactive Decay Properties

IsotopeRadioactive DecayExtern
Half-lifeDecay ModeProbabilityEnergy
789101112
Hg-17159 μsα → 167Ptca. 100 %7.668(15) MeVAL
Hg-172231(9) μsα → 168Ptca. 100 %7.524(6) MeVAL
Hg-1730.80(8) msα → 169Pt100 %7.378(4) MeVAL
Hg-1742.1 msα → 170Pt99.6(4) %7.233(6) MeVAL
Hg-17510.6(4) msα → 171Pt100 %7.072(5) MeVAL
Hg-17620.3(14) msα → 172Pt94(12) %6.897(6) MeVAL
Hg-1770.117(7) sα → 173Pt100 %6.74(5) MeVAL
Hg-177m1.50(15) μsIso → 177Hg100 %
Hg-178266.5(24) msα → 174Pt
EC/β+ → 178Au		ca. 70 %
ca. 30 %		6.577(3) MeV
5.988(15) MeV		AL
Hg-1791.05(3) sα → 175Pt
EC/β+ → 179Au
EC, p → 178Pt		55(25) %
45(25) %
ca. 0.15 %		6.36(3) MeV
8.06(3) MeV
?		AL
Hg-1802.59(1) sα → 176Pt
EC/β+ → 180Au		48(2) %
52(2) %		6.2585(24) MeV
5.375(14) MeV		AL
Hg-1813.6(1) sα → 177Pt
EC/β+ → 181Au
EC, p → 180Pt
EC, α → 177Ir		27(2) %
73(2) %
0.013(3) %
Spuren		6.284(4) MeV
7.210(25) MeV

AL
Hg-18210.83(6) sα → 178Pt
EC/β+ → 182Au		13.8(9) %
86.2(9) %		5.996(5) MeV
4.724(23) MeV		AL
Hg-1839.4(7) sα → 179Pt
EC/β+ → 183Au
EC, p → 182Pt		11.7(20) %
88.3(20) %
0.00026 %		6.039(4) MeV
6.387(12) MeV
AL
Hg-18430.87(26) sα → 180Pt
EC/β+ → 184Au		1.11(6) %
90.89(6) %		5.662(4) MeV
3.970(24) MeV		AL
Hg-18549.1(10) sα → 181Pt
EC/β+ → 185Au		6(1) %
94(1) %		5.773(4) MeV
5.674(14) MeV		AL
Hg-185m21.6(15) sα → 181Pt
EC/β+ → 185Au
Iso → 185Hg		ca. 0.03 %
46(10) %
54(10) %
Hg-1861.38(6) minα → 182Pt
EC/β+ → 186Au		0.016(5) %
99.984(5) %		5.204(10) MeV
3.176(24) MeV		AL
Hg-186m82(5) μs
Hg-1871.9(3) minα → 183Pt
EC/β+ → 187Au		< 0.00037 %
> 99.9996 %		5.230(14) MeV
4.910(26) MeV		AL
Hg-187m2.4(3) minα → 183Pt
EC/β+ → 187Au		Spuren
>> 99 %
Hg-1883.25(15) minα → 184Pt
EC/β+ → 188Au		Spuren
> 99.9999 %		4.707(16) MeV
2.169(13) MeV		AL
Hg-188m154(20) ns
Hg-1897.6(2) minα → 185Pt
EC/β+ → 189Au		< 0.00003 %
> 99.9999 %		4.640(40) MeV
3.960(40) MeV		AL
Hg-189m8.6(2) minα → 185Pt
EC/β+ → 189Au		< 0.00003 %
> 99.9999 %
Hg-19020.0(5) minα → 186Pt
EC/β+ → 190Au		Spuren
> 99.9999 %		4.069(27) MeV
1.463(16) MeV		AL
Hg-19149(10) minEC/β+ → 191Au100 %3.206(23) MeVAL
Hg-191m50.8(15) minEC/β+ → 191Au100 %
Hg-1924.85(20) hEC → 192Au100 %0.761(22) MeVAL
Hg-1933.80(15) hEC/β+ → 193Au100 %2.343(18) MeVAL
Hg-193m11.8(2) hEC/β+ → 193Au
Iso → 193Hg		92.8(5) %
7.2(5) %
Hg-194444(77) aEC → 194Au100 %28(4) MeVAL
Hg-19510.53(3) hEC/β+ → 195Au100 %1.554(23) MeVAL
Hg-195m41.6(8) hEC/β+ → 195Au
Iso → 195Hg		45.8(20) %
54.2(20) %
Hg-196stableAL
Hg-19764.14(5) hEC → 197Au100 %0.600(3) MeVAL
Hg-197m23.8(1) hEC/β+ → 197Au
Iso → 197Hg		8.6(7) %
91.4(7) %
Hg-198stableAL
Hg-199stableAL
Hg-199m42.67(9) minIso → 199Hg100 %
Hg-200stableAL
Hg-201stableAL
Hg-201m94(2) μsIso → 201Hg100 %
Hg-202stableAL
Hg-20346.594(12) dβ- → 203Tl100 %0.4921(12) MeVAL
Hg-203m24(4) μsIso → 203Hg100 %
Hg-204stableAL
Hg-2055.14(9) minβ- → 205Tl100 %1.533(4) MeVAL
Hg-205m1.09(4) msIso → 205Hg100 %
Hg-2068.32(7) minβ- → 206Tl100 %1.308(20) MeVAL
Hg-2072.9(2) minβ- → 207Tl100 %4.55(3) MeVAL
Hg-20841(5) minβ- → 208Tl100 %3.48(3) MeVAL
Hg-20936 sβ- → 209Tl100 %5.00(15) MeVAL
Hg-210AL
Hg-210m12.1(7) μsIso → 210Hg100 %
Hg-210m22(1) μsIso → 210Hg100 %
Hg-211300 nsβ- → 211Tl
β-, n → 210Tl		?
?		5.45(20) MeV
0.55(20) MeV		AL
Hg-212300 nsβ- → 212Tl
β-, n → 211Tl		?
?		4.31(36) MeV
0.76(30) MeV		AL
Hg-213300 nsβ- → 213Tl
β-, n → 212Tl		?
?		5.88(30) MeV
1.15(36) MeV		AL
Hg-214> 300 nsβ- → 214Tl
β-, n → 213Tl		?
?		4.71(45) MeV
1.32(40) MeV		AL
Hg-215> 300 nsβ- → 215Tl
β-, n → 214Tl		?
?		6.30(50) MeV
1.67(45) MeV		AL
Hg-216> 300 nsβ- → 216Tl
β-, n → 215Tl		?
?		5.14(50) MeV
1.88(50) 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 Mercury 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 Mercury 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 Mercury 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)
199Hg
16,94(12) %
1/2-		+ 0,5058855(9)4,8458
{}		7,71230,00594
0,1811
201Hg
13,17(9) %
3/2-		- 0,5602257(14)- 1,7888
{+ 0,387(6)}		2,84690,00149
0,3343

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 Mercury radionuclides:

NuclideLimit ValueHASS limitSCDaughter NuclidesHalf-life
Hg-193+106 Bq100 Bq/g3.8 h
Hg-193m+106 Bq10 Bq/g11.8 h
Hg-194+106 Bq0,1 Bq/g0,07 TBqAu-194444.0 a
Hg-195+106 Bq100 Bq/g9.9 h
Hg-195m+106 Bq100 Bq/g0,2 TBqHg-19541.6 h
Hg-197107 Bq100 Bq/g2 TBq10 Bq cm-264.6 h
Hg-197m+106 Bq100 Bq/g0,7 TBq10 Bq cm-223.8 h
Hg-203105 Bq100 Bq/g0,3 TBq10 Bq cm-246.6 d

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

 

Literature Sources and References

Properties of the Mercury 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.

Mercury: NMR properties - 199Hg-NMR, 201Hg-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] - Bridget A. Bergquist, Joel D. Blum:
The Odds and Evens of Mercury Isotopes: Applications of Mass-Dependent and Mass-Independent Isotope Fractionation.
In: Elements, (2009), DOI 10.2113/gselements.5.6.353.

[10] - Jeroen E. Sonkea, Joel D. Blum:
Advances in mercury stable isotope biogeochemistry.
In: Chemical Geology, (2012), DOI 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2012.10.035.

[11] - M. Warda, A. Staszczak, W. Nazarewicz:
Fission modes of mercury isotopes.
In: Physical Review C, (2012), DOI 10.1103/PhysRevC.86.024601.

[12] - Jason D. Demers, Joel D. Blum, Donald R. Zak:
Mercury isotopes in a forested ecosystem: implications for air-surface exchange dynamics and the global mercury cycle.
In: Global Biogeochemical Cycles, (2013), DOI 10.1002/gbc.20021.

 

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