All atomic nuclei of the chemical element zinc are summarized under zinc isotopes; these all consist of an atomic nucleus with 30 protons and, in the uncharged state, 30 electrons. The difference between the individual zinc isotopes is based on the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
Natural zinc deposits consist of the four stable isotopes Zn-64, Zn-66, Zn-67 and Zn-68 as well as the very long-lived Zn-70. In addition, 25 zinc radioisotopes are known.
The following table provides information about the natural isotopic composition of zinc:
| Atomic Mass ma | Quantity | Half-life | Spin | |
| Zinc Isotopic mixture | 65,38 u | 100 % | ||
| Isotope 64Zn | 63,929142(5) u | 49,17(75) % | stable | 0+ |
| Isotope 66Zn | 65,926034(6) u | 27,73(98) % | stable | 0+ |
| Isotope 67Zn | 66,927128(6) u | 4,04(16) % | stable | 5/2- |
| Isotope 68Zn | 67,924845(6) u | 18,45(63) % | stable | 0+ |
| Isotope 70Zn | 69,92532(2) u | 0,61(10) % | 3.8 × 1018 a | 0+ |
| Isotope Nuclide | E | N | Atomic Mass [Nuclear Mass] {Mass Excess} | Spin I (h/2π) | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Zinc-54 | 5430Zn | 24 | 53.99327(43) u [53.9768131 u] {-6.26895 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-55 | 5530Zn | 25 | 54.98436(43) u [54.9679031 u] {-14.56857 MeV} | 5/2- | |
| Zinc-56 | 5630Zn | 26 | 55.97274(43) u [55.9562831 u] {-25.39253 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-57 | 5730Zn | 27 | 56.96506(21) u [56.9486031 u] {-32.5464 MeV} | (7/2-) | |
| Zinc-58 | 5830Zn | 28 | 57.95459(5) u [57.9381331 u] {-42.29914 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-59 | 5930Zn | 29 | 58.9493120(8) u [58.9328551 u] {-47.21557 MeV} | 3/2- | |
| Zinc-60 | 6030Zn | 30 | 59.9418414(6) u [59.9253845 u] {-54.17439 MeV} | 0+ | 60Ga |
| Zinc-61 | 6130Zn | 31 | 60.939507(17) u [60.9230501 u] {-56.34887 MeV} | 3/2- | 61Ga |
| Zinc-62 | 6230Zn | 32 | 61.9343335(7) u [61.9178766 u] {-61.16795 MeV} | 0+ | 62Ga |
| Zinc-63 | 6330Zn | 33 | 62.9332112(17) u [62.9167543 u] {-62.21337 MeV} | 3/2- | 63Ga |
| Zinc-64 | 6430Zn | 34 | 63.929142(5) u [63.9126851 u] {-66.0038 MeV} | 0+ | 64Ga 64Cu |
| Zinc-65 | 6530Zn | 35 | 64.9292405(7) u [64.9127836 u] {-65.91205 MeV} | 5/2- | 65Ga |
| Zinc-65m | 65m30Zn | 35 | 64.9292405(7) u [64.9127836 u] {-65.91205 MeV} | (1/2)- | |
| Zinc-66 | 6630Zn | 36 | 65.926034(6) u [65.9095771 u] {-68.89889 MeV} | 0+ | 66Ga 66Cu |
| Zinc-67 | 6730Zn | 37 | 66.927128(6) u [66.9106711 u] {-67.87983 MeV} | 5/2- | 67Ga 67Cu |
| Zinc-67m1 | 67m130Zn | 37 | 66.927128(6) u [66.9106711 u] {-67.87983 MeV} | 1/2- | |
| Zinc-67m2 | 67m230Zn | 37 | 66.927128(6) u [66.9106711 u] {-67.87983 MeV} | 9/2+ | |
| Zinc-68 | 6830Zn | 38 | 67.924845(6) u [67.9083881 u] {-70.00643 MeV} | 0+ | 68Ga 68Cu |
| Zinc-69 | 6930Zn | 39 | 68.9265504(9) u [68.9100935 u] {-68.41786 MeV} | 1/2- | 69Cu |
| Zinc-69m | 69m30Zn | 39 | 68.9265504(9) u [68.9100935 u] {-68.41786 MeV} | 9/2+ | |
| Zinc-70 | 7030Zn | 40 | 69.92532(2) u [69.9088631 u] {-69.56397 MeV} | 0+ | 70Cu 70Ga |
| Zinc-71 | 7130Zn | 41 | 70.9277196(28) u [70.9112627 u] {-67.32876 MeV} | 1/2- | 71Cu |
| Zinc-71m | 71m30Zn | 41 | 70.9277196(28) u [70.9112627 u] {-67.32876 MeV} | 9/2+ | |
| Zinc-72 | 7230Zn | 42 | 71.9268428(23) u [71.9103859 u] {-68.14549 MeV} | 0+ | 72Cu |
| Zinc-73 | 7330Zn | 43 | 72.9295826(20) u [72.9131257 u] {-65.59339 MeV} | 1/2- | 73Cu |
| Zinc-73m1 | 73m130Zn | 43 | 72.9295826(20) u [72.9131257 u] {-65.59339 MeV} | 5/2+ | |
| Zinc-73m2 | 73m230Zn | 43 | 72.9295826(20) u [72.9131257 u] {-65.59339 MeV} | (7/2+) | |
| Zinc-74 | 7430Zn | 44 | 73.9294073(27) u [73.9129504 u] {-65.75668 MeV} | 0+ | 74Cu 75Cu |
| Zinc-75 | 7530Zn | 45 | 74.9328402(21) u [74.9163833 u] {-62.55895 MeV} | (7/2+) | 76Cu |
| Zinc-76 | 7630Zn | 46 | 75.9331150(16) u [75.9166581 u] {-62.30298 MeV} | 0+ | 76Cu 77Cu |
| Zinc-77 | 7730Zn | 47 | 76.9368872(21) u [76.9204303 u] {-58.78919 MeV} | (7/2+) | |
| Zinc-77m | 77m30Zn | 47 | 76.9368872(21) u [76.9204303 u] {-58.78919 MeV} | (1/2-) | |
| Zinc-78 | 7830Zn | 48 | 77.9382892(21) u [77.9218323 u] {-57.48324 MeV} | 0+ | 79Cu |
| Zinc-78m | 78m30Zn | 48 | 77.9382892(21) u [77.9218323 u] {-57.48324 MeV} | (8+) | |
| Zinc-79 | 7930Zn | 49 | 78.9426381(24) u [78.9261812 u] {-53.43227 MeV} | 9/2+ | 79Cu |
| Zinc-80 | 8030Zn | 50 | 79.9445529(28) u [79.928096 u] {-51.64864 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-81 | 8130Zn | 51 | 80.950403(5) u [80.9339461 u] {-46.19931 MeV} | (5/2+) | |
| Zinc-82 | 8230Zn | 52 | 81.954574(3) u [81.9381171 u] {-42.31405 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-83 | 8330Zn | 53 | 82.96104(32) u [82.9445831 u] {-36.29101 MeV} | ||
| Zinc-84 | 8430Zn | 54 | 83.96572(43) u [83.9492631 u] {-31.93161 MeV} | 0+ | |
| Zinc-85 | 8530Zn | 55 | 84.97291(54) u [84.9564531 u] {-25.23417 MeV} |
| Isotope | Radioactive Decay | Extern | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-life | Decay Mode | Probability | Energy | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Zn-54 | 1.59 ms | 2p → 52Ni | AL | ||
| Zn-55 | 20 ms | EC p → 54Ni β+ → 55Cu | 91(5) % ? | 17.07(43) MeV | AL |
| Zn-56 | 30.0(17) ms | β+ → 56Cu ε, p → 55Ni | ? 86.0(49) % | 13.25(40) MeV | AL |
| Zn-57 | 40(10) ms | EC/β+ → 57Cu β+, p → 56Ni | ≤ 35 % ≥ 65 % | 14.76(20) MeV | AL |
| Zn-58 | 86.7(24) ms | EC/β+ → 58Cu ε, p → 57Ni | > 97 % < 3 % | 9.37(5) MeV | AL |
| Zn-59 | 178.6(18) ms | EC/β+ → 59Cu ε, p → 58Ni | 99.9 % 0.10(3) % | 9.1428(9) MeV | AL |
| Zn-60 | 2.38(5) min | EC/β+ → 60Cu | 100 % | 4.1708(17) MeV | AL |
| Zn-61 | 89.1(2) s | EC/β+ → 61Cu | 100 % | 5.635(16) MeV | AL |
| Zn-62 | 9.193(15) h | EC/β+ → 62Cu | 100 % | 1.6195(9) MeV | AL |
| Zn-63 | 38.47(5) min | EC/β+ → 63Cu | 100 % | 3.3664(16) MeV | AL |
| Zn-64 | stable | AL | |||
| Zn-65 | 243.93(9) d | EC/β+ → 65Cu | 100 % | 1.3517(9) | AL |
| Zn-65m | 1.6(6) μs | ||||
| Zn-66 | stable | AL | |||
| Zn-67 | stable | AL | |||
| Zn-67m1 | 9.07(14) μs | ||||
| Zn-67m2 | 333(14) ns | ||||
| Zn-68 | stable | AL | |||
| Zn-69 | 56.4(9) min | β- → 69Ga | 100 % | 0.9100(14) MeV | AL |
| Zn-69m | 13.756(18) h | Iso → 69Zn β- → 69Ga | 99.967(3) % 0.033(3) % | ||
| Zn-70 | 3.8 × 1018 a | 2 β- 70Ge | 100 % | AL | |
| Zn-71 | 2.45(10) min | β- → 71Ga | 100 % | 2.8104(28) MeV | AL |
| Zn-71m | 3.96(5) h | β- → 71Ga Iso → 71Zn | > 99.95 % < 0.05 % | ||
| Zn-72 | 46.5(1) h | β- → 72Ga | 100 % | 0.4428(23) MeV | AL |
| Zn-73 | 24.5(2) s | β- → 73Ga | 100 % | 4.1059(25) MeV | AL |
| Zn-73m1 | 13.0(2) ms | Iso → 73Zn | |||
| Zn-73m2 | 5.8(8) s | Iso → 73Zn β- → 73Ga | |||
| Zn-74 | 95.6(12) s | β- → 74Ga | 100 % | 2.293(4) MeV | AL |
| Zn-75 | 10.2(2) s | β- → 75Ga | 100 % | 5.906(3) MeV | AL |
| Zn-76 | 5.7(3) s | β- → 76Ga | 100 % | 3.9936(24) MeV | AL |
| Zn-77 | 2.08(5) s | β- → 77Ga | 100 % | 7.203(3) MeV | AL |
| Zn-77m | 1.05(10) s | β- → 77Ga Iso → 77Zn | 66(7) % 34(7) % | ||
| Zn-78 | 1.47(15) s | β- → 78Ga | 100 % | 6.2227(27) MeV | AL |
| Zn-78m | 319(9) ns | Iso → 78Zn | 100 % | ||
| Zn-79 | 746(42) ms | β- → 79Ga β-, n → 78Ga | 98.3 % 1.7(5) % | 9.1154(29) MeV 2.2023(29) MeV | AL |
| Zn-80 | 561.9(30) ms | β- → 80Ga β-, n → 79Ga | 99 % 1.0(5) % | 7.575(4) MeV 2.828(3) MeV | AL |
| Zn-81 | 0.32(5) s | β- → 81Ga β-, n → 80Ga | 92.5 % 7.5 % | 11.428(6) MeV 4.953(6) MeV | AL |
| Zn-82 | 166(11) ms | β- → 82Ga β-, n → 81Ga | 31 % 69(7) % | 10.617(4) MeV 7.243(4) MeV | AL |
| Zn-83 | 117(20) ms | β- → 83Ga β-, n → 82Ga | 100 % ? | 12.97(30) MeV 8.57(30) MeV | AL |
| Zn-84 | 633 ns | β- → 84Ga β-, n → 83Ga β-, 2n → 82Ga | ? ? ? | 12.16(45) MeV 9.26(40) MeV | AL |
| Zn-85 | 637 ns | β- → 85Ga β-, n → 84Ga β-, 2n → 83Ga | ? ? ? | 14.62(58) MeV 10.79(54) MeV | |
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 Zinc 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 Zinc 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67Zn 4,04(16) % 5/2- | +0,875479(9) | 1,6778 {+ 0,122(10)} | 2,6685 | 0,00287 0,7312 |
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 Zinc radionuclides:
| Nuclide | Limit Value | HASS limit | SC | Daughter Nuclides | Half-life | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zn-62+ | 106 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 9.3 h | |||
| Zn-63 | 105 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 38.4 min | |||
| Zn-65 | 106 Bq | 0,1 Bq/g | 0,1 TBq | 1 Bq cm-2 | 244.2 d | |
| Zn-69 | 106 Bq | 1000 Bq/g | 30 TBq | 100 Bq cm-2 | 56.4 min | |
| Zn-69m+ | 106 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 0,2 TBq | 10 Bq cm-2 | 13.8 h | |
| Zn-71m | 106 Bq | 10 Bq/g | 4.0 h | |||
| Zn-72+ | 106 Bq | 100 Bq/g | 46.5 h | |||
(HASS = High-Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources; SC = surface contamination)
Properties of the Zinc 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.
Zinc: NMR properties - 67Zn-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).
[10] - J.L. Gross, J. Claes, J. Kathawa, M. Thoennessen:
Discovery of zinc, selenium, bromine, and neodymium isotopes.
In: Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, (2012), DOI 10.1016/j.adt.2011.12.001.
Last update: 2022-12-12
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