Phosphorus-38

Properties and data of the isotope ³⁸P.

Content

General data

Name of the isotope:Phosphorus-38; P-38Symbol:³⁸P or 3815PMass number A:38 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:15 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:23Isotopic mass:37.98430(8) u (atomic weight of Phosphorus-38)Nuclide mass:37.9760714 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:-14.62446 MeVMass defect:0.33236854800001 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:309.59930825 MeV (per nucleus)
8.14735022 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:S_N = 3.70(8) MeV (first neutron)
S_P = 15.34(13) MeV (first proton)Half-life:0.64(14) sDecay constant λ:1.0830424696249 s^-1Specific activity α:1.762766029560 × 10⁺²² Bq g^-1
476423251232.65 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)(2-)Year of discovery:1971

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 0.64(14) s respectively 6.4 × 10^-1 seconds s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
β^-	³⁸S	88(5) %	12.218 MeV
β^-, n	³⁷S	12(5) %	4.1823 MeV

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 23) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 38) with Phosphorus-38. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

OZ	Isotone N = 23	Isobar A = 38
10	³³Ne
11	³⁴Na	³⁸Na
12	³⁵Mg	³⁸Mg
13	³⁶Al	³⁸Al
14	³⁷Si	³⁸Si
15	³⁸P	³⁸P
16	³⁹S	³⁸S
17	⁴⁰Cl	³⁸Cl
18	⁴¹Ar	³⁸Ar
19	⁴²K	³⁸K
20	⁴³Ca	³⁸Ca
21	⁴⁴Sc	³⁸Sc
22	⁴⁵Ti	³⁸Ti
23	⁴⁶V
24	⁴⁷Cr
25	⁴⁸Mn
26	⁴⁹Fe
27	⁵⁰Co
28	⁵¹Ni