Iron-46

Properties and data of the isotope ⁴⁶Fe.

Contents

General data

Name of the isotope:Iron-46; Fe-46Symbol:⁴⁶Fe or 4626FeMass number A:46 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:26 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:20Isotopic mass:46.00098(54) u (atomic weight of Iron-46)Nuclide mass:45.9867173 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:0.91286 MeVMass defect:0.375769152 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:350.02671047 MeV (per nucleus)
7.60927631 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:S_N = 20.92(64) MeV (first neutron)
S_P = 1.13(64) MeV (first proton)Half-life:13.0(20) msDecay constant λ:53.319013889227 s^-1Specific activity α:6.980317655518 × 10⁺²³ Bq g^-1
18865723393293 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)0+Mirror nucleus:Calcium-46Year of discovery:1992

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 13.0(20) ms respectively 1.30 × 10^-2 seconds s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
β⁺	⁴⁶Mn	21.3 %	13.48(64) MeV
EC, p	⁴⁵Cr	78.7(38) %

Parent Nuclides

Direct parent isotope is: ⁴⁷Co.

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 20) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 46) with Iron-46. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

Z	Isotone N = 20	Isobar A = 46
8	²⁸O
9	²⁹F
10	³⁰Ne
11	³¹Na
12	³²Mg
13	³³Al
14	³⁴Si
15	³⁵P	⁴⁶P
16	³⁶S	⁴⁶S
17	³⁷Cl	⁴⁶Cl
18	³⁸Ar	⁴⁶Ar
19	³⁹K	⁴⁶K
20	⁴⁰Ca	⁴⁶Ca
21	⁴¹Sc	⁴⁶Sc
22	⁴²Ti	⁴⁶Ti
23	⁴³V	⁴⁶V
24	⁴⁴Cr	⁴⁶Cr
25	⁴⁵Mn	⁴⁶Mn
26	⁴⁶Fe	⁴⁶Fe
27	⁴⁷Co	⁴⁶Co
28	⁴⁸Ni