Zinc-56

Properties and data of the isotope ⁵⁶Zn.

Contents

General data

Name of the isotope:Zinc-56; Zn-56Symbol:⁵⁶Zn or 5630ZnMass number A:56 (= number of nucleons)Atomic number Z:30 (= number of protons)Neutrons N:26Isotopic mass:55.97274(43) u (atomic weight of Zinc-56)Nuclide mass:55.9562831 u (calculated nuclear mass without electrons)Mass excess:-25.39253 MeVMass defect:0.487298776 u (per nucleus)Nuclear binding energy:453.91588605 MeV (per nucleus)
8.10564082 MeV (average binding energy per nucleon)Separation energy:S_N = 18.89(56) MeV (first neutron)
S_P = 1.04(43) MeV (first proton)Half-life:30.0(17) msDecay constant λ:23.104906018665 s^-1Specific activity α:2.529836338181 × 10⁺²³ Bq g^-1
6837395508599.5 Ci g^-1Spin and parity:
(nuclear angular momentum)0+Mirror nucleus:Iron-56Year of discovery:2001

Radioactive Decay

Half-life T_½ = 30.0(17) ms respectively 3.0 × 10^-2 seconds s.

Decay mode	Daughter	Probability	Decay energy	γ energy (intensity)
β⁺	⁵⁶Cu	?	13.25(40) MeV
ε, p	⁵⁵Ni	86.0(49) %

Isotones and Isobars

The following table shows the atomic nuclei that are isotonic (same neutron number N = 26) and isobaric (same nucleon number A = 56) with Zinc-56. Naturally occurring isotopes are marked in green; light green = naturally occurring radionuclides.

Z	Isotone N = 26	Isobar A = 56
11	³⁷Na
12	³⁸Mg
13	³⁹Al
14	⁴⁰Si
15	⁴¹P
16	⁴²S
17	⁴³Cl
18	⁴⁴Ar
19	⁴⁵K	⁵⁶K
20	⁴⁶Ca	⁵⁶Ca
21	⁴⁷Sc	⁵⁶Sc
22	⁴⁸Ti	⁵⁶Ti
23	⁴⁹V	⁵⁶V
24	⁵⁰Cr	⁵⁶Cr
25	⁵¹Mn	⁵⁶Mn
26	⁵²Fe	⁵⁶Fe
27	⁵³Co	⁵⁶Co
28	⁵⁴Ni	⁵⁶Ni
29	⁵⁵Cu	⁵⁶Cu
30	⁵⁶Zn	⁵⁶Zn