Gadolinium-157

Isotopes of gadolinium

Isotopes of gadolinium

Nuclides with atomic number of 64 but with different mass numbers

Naturally occurring gadolinium (64Gd) is composed of 6 stable isotopes, 154Gd, 155Gd, 156Gd, 157Gd, 158Gd and 160Gd, and 1 radioisotope, 152Gd, with 158Gd being the most abundant (24.84% natural abundance). The predicted double beta decay of 160Gd has never been observed; only a lower limit on its half-life of more than 1.3×1021 years has been set experimentally.[5]

Quick Facts Main isotopes, Decay ...

Thirty-three radioisotopes have been characterized, with the most stable being alpha-decaying 152Gd (naturally occurring) with a half-life of 1.08×1014 years, and 150Gd with a half-life of 1.79×106 years. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives less than 100 years, the majority of these having half-lives less than 24.6 seconds. Gadolinium isotopes have 10 metastable isomers, with the most stable being 143mGd (t1/2 = 110 seconds), 145mGd (t1/2 = 85 seconds) and 141mGd (t1/2 = 24.5 seconds).

The primary decay mode at atomic weights lower than the most abundant stable isotope, 158Gd, is electron capture, and the primary mode at higher atomic weights is beta decay. The primary decay products for isotopes lighter than 158Gd are isotopes of europium and the primary products of heavier isotopes are isotopes of terbium.

List of isotopes

More information Nuclide, Z ...
  1. [n 1]
    mGd – Excited nuclear isomer.
  2. [n 2]
    ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
  3. [n 3]
    # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
  4. [n 4]
    Bold half-life – nearly stable, half-life longer than age of universe.
  5. [n 5]
    # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
  6. [n 6]
    Modes of decay:
    EC:Electron capture
    IT:Isomeric transition
  7. [n 7]
    Bold italics symbol as daughter – Daughter product is nearly stable.
  8. [n 8]
    Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
  9. [n 9]
    ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
  10. [N 10]
    Theorized to also undergo β+β+ decay to 148Sm
  11. [N 11]
    Theorized to also undergo β+β+ decay to 150Sm
  12. [N 12]
    primordial radionuclide
  13. [N 13]
    Theorized to also undergo β+β+ decay to 152Sm
  14. [N 14]
    Believed to undergo α decay to 150Sm
  15. [N 15]
    Fission product
  16. [N 16]
    Believed to undergo α decay to 151Sm
  17. [N 17]
    Believed to undergo β−β− decay to 160Dy with a half-life over 1.3×1021 years

Gadolinium-148

With a half-life of 86.9±3.9 year via alpha decay alone,[2] gadolinium-148 would be ideal for radioisotope thermoelectric generators. However, gadolinium-148 cannot be economically synthesized in sufficient quantities to power a RTG.[7]

Gadolinium-153

Gadolinium-153 has a half-life of 240.4±10 d and emits gamma radiation with strong peaks at 41 keV and 102 keV. It is used as a gamma ray source for X-ray absorptiometry and fluorescence, for bone density gauges for osteoporosis screening, and for radiometric profiling in the Lixiscope portable x-ray imaging system, also known as the Lixi Profiler. In nuclear medicine, it serves to calibrate the equipment needed like single-photon emission computed tomography systems (SPECT) to make x-rays. It ensures that the machines work correctly to produce images of radioisotope distribution inside the patient. This isotope is produced in a nuclear reactor from europium or enriched gadolinium.[8] It can also detect the loss of calcium in the hip and back bones, allowing the ability to diagnose osteoporosis.[9]

References

  1. [1]
    Kondev, F. G.; Wang, M.; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.; Audi, G. (2021). "The NUBASE2020 evaluation of nuclear properties" (PDF). Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030001. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddae.
  2. [2]
    Chiera, Nadine M.; Dressler, Rugard; Sprung, Peter; Talip, Zeynep; Schumann, Dorothea (2023). "Determination of the half-life of gadolinium-148". Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 194. Elsevier BV: 110708. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110708. ISSN 0969-8043.
  3. [3]
    "Standard Atomic Weights: Gadolinium". CIAAW. 1969.
  4. [4]
    Prohaska, Thomas; Irrgeher, Johanna; Benefield, Jacqueline; Böhlke, John K.; Chesson, Lesley A.; Coplen, Tyler B.; Ding, Tiping; Dunn, Philip J. H.; Gröning, Manfred; Holden, Norman E.; Meijer, Harro A. J. (2022-05-04). "Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. doi:10.1515/pac-2019-0603. ISSN 1365-3075.
  5. [5]
    F. A. Danevich; et al. (2001). "Quest for double beta decay of 160Gd and Ce isotopes". Nuclear Physics A. 694 (1–2): 375–391. arXiv:nucl-ex/0011020. Bibcode:2001NuPhA.694..375D. doi:10.1016/S0375-9474(01)00983-6. S2CID 11874988.
  6. [6]
    Kiss, G. G.; Vitéz-Sveiczer, A.; Saito, Y.; et al. (2022). "Measuring the β-decay properties of neutron-rich exotic Pm, Sm, Eu, and Gd isotopes to constrain the nucleosynthesis yields in the rare-earth region". The Astrophysical Journal. 936 (107): 107. Bibcode:2022ApJ...936..107K. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac80fc. hdl:2117/375253.
  7. [7]
    Council, National Research; Sciences, Division on Engineering Physical; Board, Aeronautics Space Engineering; Board, Space Studies; Committee, Radioisotope Power Systems (2009). Radioisotope Power Systems: An Imperative for Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.367.4042. doi:10.17226/12653. ISBN 978-0-309-13857-4.
  8. [8]
    "PNNL: Isotope Sciences Program – Gadolinium-153". pnl.gov. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27.
  9. [9]
    "Gadolinium". BCIT Chemistry Resource Center. British Columbia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
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