View source for Isotopes of fluorine

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox fluorine isotopes}}
[[Fluorine]] (<sub>9</sub>F) has 19 known [[isotope]]s ranging from {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|13}} to {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|31}} and two [[nuclear isomer|isomers]] ({{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18m}} and {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26m}}). Only [[fluorine-19]] is stable and naturally occurring in more than trace quantities; therefore, fluorine is a [[monoisotopic element|monoisotopic]] and [[mononuclidic element]].

The longest-lived radioisotope is [[fluorine-18|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18}}]]; it has a half-life of {{val|109.734|(8)|u=minutes}}. All other fluorine isotopes have half-lives of less than a minute, and most of those less than a second. The least stable known isotope is {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|14}}, whose half-life is {{val|500|(60)|u=yoctoseconds}},{{NUBASE2020|name}} corresponding to a [[Resonance (particle physics)|resonance width]] of {{val|910|(100)|u=keV}}.

== List of isotopes ==
{{Isotopes table
|symbol=F
|refs=NUBASE2020, AME2020 II
|notes=m, unc(), hl#, mass#, spin(), spin#, daughter-st, IT, EC, p, n
}}
|-id=Fluorine-13
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|13}}<ref name="13F">{{cite journal |last1=Charity |first1=R. J. |title=Observation of the Exotic Isotope 13 F Located Four Neutrons beyond the Proton Drip Line |journal=Physical Review Letters |date=2 April 2021 |volume=126 |issue=13 |page=2501 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.132501 |pmid=33861136 |bibcode=2021PhRvL.126m2501C |osti=1773500 |s2cid=233259561 |url=https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.132501 |access-date=5 April 2021 |ref=PhysRevLett}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 4
| {{val|13.045120|(540)}}#
| 
| [[proton emission|p]] ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|12}} ?
| 1/2+#
|
|-id=Fluorine-14
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|14}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 5
| {{val|14.034320|(40)}}
| {{val|500|(60)|u=ys}}<br/>[{{val|910|(100)|u=keV}}]
| [[proton emission|p]] ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|13}} ?
| 2−
|
|-id=Fluorine-15
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|15}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 6
| {{val|15.017785|(15)}}
| {{val|1.1|(3)|u=zs}}<br/>[{{val|376|u=keV}}]<!-- value quoted in NUBASE2020 is {{val|376|u=keV}} with statistical uncertainty {{val|376|(70)|u=keV}} and systematic uncertainty {{val|376|200|0|u=keV}}; please add appropriate uncertainty values -->
| p
| {{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|14}}
| 1/2+
|
|-id=Fluorine-16
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|16}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 7
| {{val|16.011460|(6)}}
| {{val|21|(5)|u=zs}}<br/>[{{val|21.3|(5.1)|u=keV}}]
| p
| {{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|15}}
| 0−
|
|-id=Fluorine-17
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|17}}<ref group="n">Intermediate product of various [[CNO cycle#Cold CNO cycles|CNO cycles]] in stellar nucleosynthesis as part of the process producing helium from hydrogen</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 8
| {{val|17.00209524|(27)}}
| {{val|64.370|(27)|u=s}}
| [[Beta decay|β<sup>+</sup>]]
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|17}}'''
| 5/2+
|
|-
| [[Fluorine-18|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18}}]]<ref group="n">Has [[nuclear medicine|medicinal]] uses</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| {{val|18.0009373|(5)}}
| {{val|109.734|(8)|u=min}}
| β<sup>+</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|18}}'''
| 1+
| Trace
|-id=Fluorine-18m
| style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18m}}
| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|1121.36|(15)|u=keV}}
| {{val|162|(7)|u=ns}}
| [[Isomeric transition|IT]]
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18}}
| 5+
|
|-
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|19}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 10
| {{val|18.998403162067|(883)}}
| colspan=3 align=center|'''Stable'''
| 1/2+
| 1
|-
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|20}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| {{val|19.99998125|(3)}}
| {{val|11.0062|(80)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|20}}'''
| 2+
|
|-
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|21}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 12
| {{val|20.9999489|(19)}}
| {{val|4.158|(20)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|21}}'''
| 5/2+
|
|-id=Fluorine-22
| rowspan=2|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|22}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 13
| rowspan=2|{{val|22.002999|(13)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|4.23|(4)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup> (> {{val|89|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|22}}'''
| rowspan=2|(4+)
| rowspan=2|
|-
| [[neutron emission|β<sup>−</sup>n]] (< {{val|11|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|21}}'''
|-id=Fluorine-23
| rowspan=2|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|23}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 14
| rowspan=2|{{val|23.003530|(40)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|2.23|(14)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup> (> {{val|86|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|23}}
| rowspan=2|5/2+
| rowspan=2|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n (< {{val|14|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|22}}'''
|-id=Fluorine-24
| rowspan=2|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|24}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 15
| rowspan=2|{{val|24.008100|(100)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|384|(16)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> (> {{val|94.1|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|24}}
| rowspan=2|3+
| rowspan=2|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n (< {{val|5.9|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|23}}
|-id=Fluorine-25
| rowspan=3|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|25}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 16
| rowspan=3|{{val|25.012170|(100)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|80|(9)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|76.9|(4.5)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|25}}
| rowspan=3|(5/2+)
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|23.1|(4.5)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|24}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|23}} ?
|-id=Fluorine-26
| rowspan=3|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 17
| rowspan=3|{{val|26.020050|(110)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|8.2|(9)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|86.5|(4.0)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|26}}
| rowspan=3|1+
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|13.5|(4.0)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|25}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|24}} ?
|-id=Fluorine-26m
| rowspan=3 style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26m}}
| rowspan=3 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|643.4|(1)|u=keV}}
| rowspan=3 | {{val|2.2|(1)|u=ms}}
| IT ({{val|82|(11)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26}}
| rowspan=3|(4+)
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|12|(8)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|25}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|26}} ?
|-id=Fluorine-27
| rowspan=3|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|27}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 18
| rowspan=3|{{val|27.026980|(130)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|5.0|(2)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|77|(21)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|26}}
| rowspan=3|5/2+#
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|23|(21)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|27}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|25}} ?
|-id=Fluorine-28
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|28}}
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 19
| {{val|28.035860|(130)}}
| {{val|46|u=zs}}
| n
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|27}}
| (4−)
|
|-id=Fluorine-29
| rowspan=3|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|29}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 20
| rowspan=3|{{val|29.043100|(560)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|2.5|(3)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|60|(40)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|28}}
| rowspan=3|(5/2+)
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|40|(40)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|29}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|27}} ?
|-id=Fluorine-30
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|30}}<ref>{{cite journal | last=Kahlbow | first=J. | display-authors=etal | collaboration=SAMURAI21-NeuLAND Collaboration | title=Magicity versus Superfluidity around <sup>28</sup>O viewed from the Study of <sup>30</sup>F | journal=Physical Review Letters | volume=133 | issue=8 | date=2024-08-23 | issn=0031-9007 | doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.082501| doi-access=free | arxiv=2407.19303 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:right" | 9
| style="text-align:right" | 21
| {{val|30.05256|(54)}}#
| {{val|0.96|0.56|0.41|u=zs}}
| n
| {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|29}}
|
|
|-id=Fluorine-31
| rowspan=3|{{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|31}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 22
| rowspan=3|{{val|31.06020|(570)}}#
| rowspan=3|{{val|2|u=ms}}# [> {{val|260|u=ns}}]
| β<sup>−</sup> ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|31}} ?
| rowspan=3|5/2+#
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|30}} ?
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|29}} ?
|-
{{Isotopes table/footer}}

==Fluorine-18==
{{Main|Fluorine-18}}
Of the unstable nuclides of fluorine, {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18}} has the longest half-life, {{val|109.734|(8)|u=minutes}}. It decays to {{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|18}} via β<sup>+</sup> decay. For this reason {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18}} is a commercially important source of [[Positron|positrons]]. Its major value is in the production of the [[radiopharmacology|radiopharmaceutical]] [[fludeoxyglucose]], used in [[positron emission tomography]] in medicine.

Fluorine-18 is the lightest unstable nuclide with equal odd numbers of protons and neutrons, having 9 of each. (See also the [[Stable isotope#"Magic numbers" and odd and even proton and neutron count|"magic numbers"]] discussion of nuclide stability.)<ref name="goto">{{NNDC}}</ref>

==Fluorine-19==

'''Fluorine-19''' is the only stable [[isotope]] of [[fluorine]]. Its abundance is {{val|100|u=%}}; no other isotopes of fluorine exist in significant quantities. Its binding energy is {{val|147801.3648|(38)|u=keV}}. Fluorine-19 is [[NMR]]-active with a spin of 1/2+, so it is used in [[fluorine-19 NMR]] spectroscopy.

==Fluorine-20==
'''Fluorine-20''' is an unstable [[isotope]] of [[fluorine]]. It has a half-life of {{val|11.0062|(80)|u=seconds}} and decays via beta decay to the stable nuclide {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|20}}. Its [[Specific activity|specific radioactivity]] is {{val|1.8693|(14)|e=+21|u=Bq/g}} and has a [[mean lifetime]] of {{val|15.879|(12)|u=seconds}}.

==Fluorine-21==
'''Fluorine-21''', as with [[fluorine-20]], is also an unstable [[isotope]] of fluorine. It has a half-life of {{val|4.158|(20)|u=seconds}}. It undergoes beta decay as well, decaying to {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|21}}, which is a stable nuclide. Its [[specific activity]] is {{val|4.781|(23)|e=+21|u=Bq/g}}.

==Isomers==
Only two [[Nuclear isomer|nuclear isomers]] (long-lived excited nuclear states), fluorine-18m and fluorine-26m, have been characterized.{{NUBASE2020|name}} The half-life of {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|18m}} before it undergoes [[isomeric transition]] is {{val|162|(7)|ul=nanoseconds}}.{{NUBASE2020|ref}} This is less than the decay half-life of any of the fluorine radioisotope nuclear ground states except for mass numbers 14–16, 28, and 31. <!-- please check if this is still correct in NUBASE2020 -->{{NUBASE2016|ref}} The half-life of {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26m}} is {{val|2.2|(1)|u=milliseconds}}; it decays mainly to its ground state of {{SimpleNuclide|Fluorine|26}} or (rarely, via [[beta-minus decay]]) to one of high excited states of {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|26}} with delayed [[neutron emission]].{{NUBASE2020|name}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
<!-- for the infobox -->
*{{cite report|last1=Chisté|first1=V.|last2=Bé|first2=M. M.|chapter=F-18|chapter-url=http://www.nucleide.org/DDEP_WG/Nuclides/F-18_tables.pdf|title=Table de radionucléides|publisher=CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives), LIST, LNE-LNHB (Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel/Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique)|access-date=15 June 2011|display-editors=4|editor=Bé, M. M.|editor2=Coursol, N.|editor3=Duchemin, B.|editor4=Lagoutine, F.|editor5=Legrand, J.|editor6=Debertin, K.|editor7=Schönfeld, E.|date=2011|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811110156/http://www.nucleide.org/DDEP_WG/Nuclides/F-18_tables.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{Navbox element isotopes}}
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[[Category:Lists of isotopes by element|Fluorine]]