Common Isotopic Elements and their Properties
This handbook explains the different properties of isotopes, the types of isotopes, such as radioactive and stable, and the applications of isotopes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Common Isotopic Elements and their Properties
Classification of Isotopes
Isotopes exhibit different physical properties because of the difference in their neutron number. Based on their stability and radioactive nature, isotopes can be classified as:
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Stable Isotopes
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Radioactive Isotopes
Generally, the heavier elements have radioactive isotopes while the lighter elements are stable. There are exceptions to this rule though. Many isotopes are present for a very short time because of their radioactive nature and immediately disintegrate into other elements.
Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive isotopes are nuclides that have unstable nuclei and emit alpha, beta, and sometimes gamma rays on decay. Such isotopes reach stability by transforming into non radioactive isotopes of other chemical elements. These isotopes are termed, as a result, Parent atom or Parent isotopes.
Types of Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive isotopes are classified based on their nature and occurrence into:
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Long-Lived Radioactive Nuclides: Long-lived radioactive nuclides were created during the formation of the solar system nearly 4.6 billion years ago. These nuclides have very long half lives, are still present on earth, and include 40K with a half life of 1.28 billion years, 87Rb with a half life of 48.8 billion years, and 238U with a half life of 447 billion years.
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Cosmogenic: Cosmogenic isotopes are a result of cosmic ray activity in the atmosphere. Cosmic rays ejected from the stars at very high speed shatter other atoms on collision in a process known as Spallation. Some nuclides produced during Spallation are unstable atoms with a different atomic structure and atomic number and they are isotopes of...
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