Copper-59

Properties and data of the isotope ⁵⁹Cu.

Contents

General data

Name of the isotope:Copper-59; Cu-59Symbol:⁵⁹Cu or 5929CuMass number A:59 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:29 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:30Isotopic mass:58.9394968(6) u (atomic weight of Copper-59)Nuclide mass:58.9235884 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:-56.35837 MeVMass defect:0.547376608 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:509.87802609 MeV (per nucleus)
8.64200044 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:S_N = 12.7619(6) MeV (first neutron)
S_P = 3.4185(4) MeV (first proton)Half-life:81.5(5) sDecay constant λ:0.0085048733811036 s^-1Specific activity α:8.830611292574 × 10⁺¹⁹ Bq g^-1
2386651700.6958 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)3/2-Magnetic dipole moment:μ(μ_N) = +1.8931(9)Quadrupole moment Q:-0.20(2) barn (100 fm²)Nuclear g-factor:g_l = 1.2620666666667Mirror nucleus:Zinc-59Year of discovery:1947

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 81.5(5) s respectively 8.15 × 10¹ seconds s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
EE/β⁺	⁵⁹Ni	100 %	4.7984(7) MeV

Parent Nuclides

Direct parent isotope is: ⁵⁹Zn.

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 30) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 59) with Copper-59. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

Z	Isotone N = 30	Isobar A = 59
13	⁴³Al
14	⁴⁴Si
15	⁴⁵P
16	⁴⁶S
17	⁴⁷Cl
18	⁴⁸Ar
19	⁴⁹K
20	⁵⁰Ca
21	⁵¹Sc	⁵⁹Sc
22	⁵²Ti	⁵⁹Ti
23	⁵³V	⁵⁹V
24	⁵⁴Cr	⁵⁹Cr
25	⁵⁵Mn	⁵⁹Mn
26	⁵⁶Fe	⁵⁹Fe
27	⁵⁷Co	⁵⁹Co
28	⁵⁸Ni	⁵⁹Ni
29	⁵⁹Cu	⁵⁹Cu
30	⁶⁰Zn	⁵⁹Zn
31	⁶¹Ga	⁵⁹Ga
32	⁶²Ge	⁵⁹Ge
33	⁶³As
34	⁶⁴Se