Isotopes of copper

Isotopes of copper (₂₉Cu)
β−	64Zn
Standard atomic weight Ar°(Cu)
	63.546±0.003; 63.546±0.003 (abridged);
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Copper (₂₉Cu) has two stable isotopes, ⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu, along with 28 radioisotopes. The most stable radioisotope is ⁶⁷Cu with a half-life of 61.83 hours. Most of the others have half-lives under a minute. Unstable copper isotopes with atomic masses below 63 tend to undergo β⁺ decay, while isotopes with atomic masses above 65 tend to undergo β⁻ decay. ⁶⁴Cu decays by both β⁺ and β⁻.^[1]

There are at least 10 metastable isomers of copper, including two each for ⁷⁰Cu and ⁷⁵Cu. The most stable of these is ^68mCu with a half-life of 3.75 minutes. The least stable is ^75m2Cu with a half-life of 149 ns.^[1]

List of isotopes

Nuclide ^{[n 1]}	Z	N	Isotopic mass (Da)^[4] ^{[n 2]}^{[n 3]}	Half-life^[1]	Decay mode^[1] ^{[n 4]}	Daughter isotope ^{[n 5]}	Spin and parity^[1] ^{[n 6]}^{[n 7]}	Natural abundance (mole fraction)
Nuclide ^{[n 1]}	Excitation energy^{[n 7]}			Half-life^[1]	Decay mode^[1] ^{[n 4]}	Daughter isotope ^{[n 5]}	Spin and parity^[1] ^{[n 6]}^{[n 7]}	Normal proportion^[1]	Range of variation
⁵⁵Cu	29	26	54.96604(17)	55.9(15) ms	β⁺	⁵⁵Ni	3/2−#
⁵⁵Cu	29	26	54.96604(17)	55.9(15) ms	β⁺, p?	⁵⁴Co	3/2−#
⁵⁶Cu	29	27	55.9585293(69)	80.8(6) ms	β⁺ (99.60%)	⁵⁶Ni	(4+)
⁵⁶Cu	29	27	55.9585293(69)	80.8(6) ms	β⁺, p (0.40%)	⁵⁵Co	(4+)
⁵⁷Cu	29	28	56.94921169(54)	196.4(7) ms	β⁺	⁵⁷Ni	3/2−
⁵⁸Cu	29	29	57.94453228(60)	3.204(7) s	β⁺	⁵⁸Ni	1+
⁵⁹Cu	29	30	58.93949671(57)	81.5(5) s	β⁺	⁵⁹Ni	3/2−
⁶⁰Cu	29	31	59.9373638(17)	23.7(4) min	β⁺	⁶⁰Ni	2+
⁶¹Cu	29	32	60.9334574(10)	3.343(16) h	β⁺	⁶¹Ni	3/2−
⁶²Cu	29	33	61.9325948(07)	9.672(8) m	β⁺	⁶²Ni	1+
⁶³Cu	29	34	62.92959712(46)	Stable			3/2−	0.6915(15)
⁶⁴Cu	29	35	63.92976400(46)	12.7004(13) h	β⁺ (61.52%)	⁶⁴Ni	1+
⁶⁴Cu	29	35	63.92976400(46)	12.7004(13) h	β⁻ (38.48%)	⁶⁴Zn	1+
⁶⁵Cu	29	36	64.92778948(69)	Stable			3/2−	0.3085(15)
⁶⁶Cu	29	37	65.92886880(70)	5.120(14) min	β⁻	⁶⁶Zn	1+
^66mCu	1154.2(14) keV			600(17) ns	IT	⁶⁸Cu	(6)−
⁶⁷Cu	29	38	66.92772949(96)	61.83(12) h	β⁻	⁶⁷Zn	3/2−
⁶⁸Cu	29	39	67.9296109(17)	30.9(6) s	β⁻	⁶⁸Zn	1+
^68mCu	721.26(8) keV			3.75(5) min	IT (86%)	⁶⁸Cu	6−
^68mCu	721.26(8) keV			3.75(5) min	β⁻ (14%)	⁶⁸Zn	6−
⁶⁹Cu	29	40	68.929429267(15)	2.85(15) min	β⁻	⁶⁹Zn	3/2−
^69mCu	2742.0(7) keV			357(2) ns	IT	⁶⁹Cu	(13/2+)
⁷⁰Cu	29	41	69.9323921(12)	44.5(2) s	β⁻	⁷⁰Zn	6−
^70m1Cu	101.1(3) keV			33(2) s	β⁻ (52%)	⁷⁰Zn	3−
^70m1Cu	101.1(3) keV			33(2) s	IT (48%)	⁷⁰Cu	3−
^70m2Cu	242.6(5) keV			6.6(2) s	β⁻ (93.2%)	⁷⁰Zn	1+
^70m2Cu	242.6(5) keV			6.6(2) s	IT (6.8%)	⁷⁰Cu	1+
⁷¹Cu	29	42	70.9326768(16)	19.4(14) s	β⁻	⁷¹Zn	3/2−
^71mCu	2755.7(6) keV			271(13) ns	IT	⁷¹Cu	(19/2−)
⁷²Cu	29	43	71.9358203(15)	6.63(3) s	β⁻	⁷²Zn	2−
^72mCu	270(3) keV			1.76(3) μs	IT	⁷²Cu	(6−)
⁷³Cu	29	44	72.9366744(21)	4.20(12) s	β⁻ (99.71%)	⁷³Zn	3/2−
⁷³Cu	29	44	72.9366744(21)	4.20(12) s	β⁻, n (0.29%)	⁷²Zn	3/2−
⁷⁴Cu	29	45	73.9398749(66)	1.606(9) s	β⁻ (99.93%)	⁷⁴Zn	2−
⁷⁴Cu	29	45	73.9398749(66)	1.606(9) s	β⁻, n (0.075%)	⁷³Zn	2−
⁷⁵Cu	29	46	74.94152382(77)	1.224(3) s	β⁻ (97.3%)	⁷⁵Zn	5/2−
⁷⁵Cu	29	46	74.94152382(77)	1.224(3) s	β⁻, n (2.7%)	⁷⁴Zn	5/2−
^75m1Cu	61.7(4) keV			0.310(8) μs	IT	⁷⁵Cu	1/2−
^75m2Cu	66.2(4) keV			0.149(5) μs	IT	⁷⁵Cu	3/2−
⁷⁶Cu	29	47	75.94526897(98)	637.7(55) ms	β⁻ (92.8%)	⁷⁶Zn	3−
⁷⁶Cu	29	47	75.94526897(98)	637.7(55) ms	β⁻, n (7.2%)	⁷⁵Zn	3−
⁷⁷Cu	29	48	76.9475436(13)	470.3(17) ms	β⁻ (69.9%)	⁷⁷Zn	5/2−
⁷⁷Cu	29	48	76.9475436(13)	470.3(17) ms	β⁻, n (30.1%)	⁷⁶Zn	5/2−
⁷⁸Cu	29	49	77.951917(14)	330.7(20) ms	β⁻, n (50.6%)	⁷⁷Zn	(6−)
					β⁻ (49.4%)	⁷⁸Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁷⁶Zn
⁷⁹Cu	29	50	78.95447(11)	241.3(21) ms	β⁻, n (66%)	⁷⁸Zn	(5/2−)
					β⁻ (34%)	⁷⁹Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁷⁷Zn
⁸⁰Cu	29	51	79.96062(32)#	113.3(64) ms	β⁻, n (59%)	⁷⁹Zn
					β⁻ (41%)	⁸⁰Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁷⁸Zn
⁸¹Cu	29	52	80.96574(32)#	73.2(68) ms	β⁻, n (81%)	⁸⁰Zn	5/2−#
					β⁻ (19%)	⁸¹Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁷⁹Zn
⁸²Cu	29	53	81.97238(43)#	34(7) ms	β⁻	⁸²Zn	5/2−#
					β⁻, n?	⁸¹Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁸⁰Zn
⁸³Cu	29	54	82.97811(54)#	21# ms [>410 ns]	β⁻?	⁸³Zn	5/2−#
					β⁻, n?	⁸²Zn
					β⁻, 2n?	⁸¹Zn
⁸⁴Cu^[5]	29	55	83.98527(54)#		β⁻?	⁸⁴Zn
⁸⁴Cu^[5]	29	55	83.98527(54)#		β⁻, n?	⁸⁴Zn
This table header & footer: view

^ ^mCu – Excited nuclear isomer.
^ ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
^ # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
^ Modes of decay:

IT: Isomeric transition

n: Neutron emission

p: Proton emission
^ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
^ ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
^ ^a ^b # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).

Copper nuclear magnetic resonance

Both stable isotopes of copper (⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu) have nuclear spin of 3/2−, and thus produce nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, although the spectral lines are broad due to quadrupolar broadening. ⁶³Cu is the more sensitive nucleus while ⁶⁵Cu yields very slightly narrower signals. Usually though ⁶³Cu NMR is preferred.^[6]

Medical applications

Copper offers a relatively large number of radioisotopes that are potentially useful for nuclear medicine.

There is growing interest in the use of ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶²Cu, ⁶¹Cu, and ⁶⁰Cu for diagnostic purposes and ⁶⁷Cu and ⁶⁴Cu for targeted radiotherapy. For example, ⁶⁴Cu has a longer half-life than most positron-emitters (12.7 hours) and is thus ideal for diagnostic PET imaging of biological molecules.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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.
^ "Standard Atomic Weights: Copper". CIAAW. 1969.
^ 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.
^ Wang, Meng; Huang, W.J.; Kondev, F.G.; Audi, G.; Naimi, S. (2021). "The AME 2020 atomic mass evaluation (II). Tables, graphs and references*". Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030003. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddaf.
^ Shimizu, Y.; Kubo, T.; Sumikama, T.; Fukuda, N.; Takeda, H.; Suzuki, H.; Ahn, D. S.; Inabe, N.; Kusaka, K.; Ohtake, M.; Yanagisawa, Y.; Yoshida, K.; Ichikawa, Y.; Isobe, T.; Otsu, H.; Sato, H.; Sonoda, T.; Murai, D.; Iwasa, N.; Imai, N.; Hirayama, Y.; Jeong, S. C.; Kimura, S.; Miyatake, H.; Mukai, M.; Kim, D. G.; Kim, E.; Yagi, A. (8 April 2024). "Production of new neutron-rich isotopes near the N = 60 isotones Ge 92 and As 93 by in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon U 238 beam". Physical Review C. 109 (4). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.109.044313.
^ "(Cu) Copper NMR".
^ Harris, M. "Clarity uses a cutting-edge imaging technique to guide drug development". Nature Biotechnology September 2014: 34

Isotope masses from:
- Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
Isotopic compositions and standard atomic masses from:
- de Laeter, John Robert; Böhlke, John Karl; De Bièvre, Paul; Hidaka, Hiroshi; Peiser, H. Steffen; Rosman, Kevin J. R.; Taylor, Philip D. P. (2003). "Atomic weights of the elements. Review 2000 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 75 (6): 683–800. doi:10.1351/pac200375060683.
- Wieser, Michael E. (2006). "Atomic weights of the elements 2005 (IUPAC Technical Report)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 78 (11): 2051–2066. doi:10.1351/pac200678112051.
"News & Notices: Standard Atomic Weights Revised". International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. 19 October 2005.
Half-life, spin, and isomer data selected from the following sources.
- Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
- National Nuclear Data Center. "NuDat 2.x database". Brookhaven National Laboratory.
- Holden, Norman E. (2004). "11. Table of the Isotopes". In Lide, David R. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (85th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0485-9.
Application of Copper radioisotopes in Medicine (Review Paper):
- Pejman Rowshanfarzad; Mahsheed Sabet; AmirReza Jalilian; Mohsen Kamalidehghan (2006). "An overview of copper radionuclides and production of ⁶¹Cu by proton irradiation of ^natZn at a medical cyclotron". Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 64 (12): 1563–1573. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2005.11.012. PMID 16377202.

[4] Cu – Excited nuclear isomer.

[6] ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.

[TMS-7] # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).

[8] Modes of decay:

IT: Isomeric transition

n: Neutron emission

p: Proton emission

[9] Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.

[10] ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.

[TNN-11] # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).

[NUBASE2020-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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] "Standard Atomic Weights: Copper". CIAAW. 1969.

[CIAAW2021-3] 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.

[AME2020_II-5] Wang, Meng; Huang, W.J.; Kondev, F.G.; Audi, G.; Naimi, S. (2021). "The AME 2020 atomic mass evaluation (II). Tables, graphs and references*". Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030003. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddaf.

[12] Shimizu, Y.; Kubo, T.; Sumikama, T.; Fukuda, N.; Takeda, H.; Suzuki, H.; Ahn, D. S.; Inabe, N.; Kusaka, K.; Ohtake, M.; Yanagisawa, Y.; Yoshida, K.; Ichikawa, Y.; Isobe, T.; Otsu, H.; Sato, H.; Sonoda, T.; Murai, D.; Iwasa, N.; Imai, N.; Hirayama, Y.; Jeong, S. C.; Kimura, S.; Miyatake, H.; Mukai, M.; Kim, D. G.; Kim, E.; Yagi, A. (8 April 2024). "Production of new neutron-rich isotopes near the N = 60 isotones Ge 92 and As 93 by in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon U 238 beam". Physical Review C. 109 (4). doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.109.044313.

[13] "(Cu) Copper NMR".

[64Cu-Harris-14] Harris, M. "Clarity uses a cutting-edge imaging technique to guide drug development". Nature Biotechnology September 2014: 34

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