Copper-68

Properties and data of the isotope ⁶⁸Cu.

Content

General data

Name of the isotope:Copper-68; Cu-68Symbol:⁶⁸Cu or 6829CuMass number A:68 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:29 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:39Isotopic mass:67.9296109(17) u (atomic weight of Copper-68)Nuclide mass:67.9137025 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:-65.56702 MeVMass defect:0.635246752 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:591.72853801 MeV (per nucleus)
8.70189026 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:S_N = 6.3188(18) MeV (first neutron)
S_P = 9.113(3) MeV (first proton)Half-life:30.9(6) sDecay constant λ:0.022431947590937 s^-1Specific activity α:2.016244002318 × 10⁺²⁰ Bq g^-1
5449308114.3743 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)1+Magnetic dipole moment:μ(μ_N) = +2.3933(6)Quadrupole moment Q:-0.082 barn (100 fm²)Nuclear g-factor:g_l = 2.3933Year of discovery:1953

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 30.9(6) s respectively 3.09 × 10¹ seconds s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
β^-	⁶⁸Zn	100 %	4.4401(18) MeV

Parent Nuclides

Direct parent isotope is: ⁶⁸Ni.

Nuclear Isomers

Nuclear isomers or excited states with the activation energy in keV related to the ground state.

Nuclear Isomer	Excitation Energy	Half-life	Spin
^68mCu	721.26(8) keV	3.75(5) min	6-

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 39) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 68) with Copper-68. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

OZ	Isotone N = 39	Isobar A = 68
21	⁶⁰Sc
22	⁶¹Ti
23	⁶²V
24	⁶³Cr	⁶⁸Cr
25	⁶⁴Mn	⁶⁸Mn
26	⁶⁵Fe	⁶⁸Fe
27	⁶⁶Co	⁶⁸Co
28	⁶⁷Ni	⁶⁸Ni
29	⁶⁸Cu	⁶⁸Cu
30	⁶⁹Zn	⁶⁸Zn
31	⁷⁰Ga	⁶⁸Ga
32	⁷¹Ge	⁶⁸Ge
33	⁷²As	⁶⁸As
34	⁷³Se	⁶⁸Se
35	⁷⁴Br	⁶⁸Br
36	⁷⁵Kr	⁶⁸Kr
37	⁷⁶Rb
38	⁷⁷Sr
39	⁷⁸Y
40	⁷⁹Zr
42	⁸¹Mo