Isotopes of magnesium

{{Short description|none}} {{Infobox magnesium isotopes}} Magnesium (₁₂Mg) naturally occurs as three stable isotopes: {{chem|24|Mg}}, {{chem|25|Mg}}, and {{chem|26|Mg}}. There are also 19 artificial radioisotopes that have been discovered, ranging from {{chem|18|Mg}} to {{chem|40|Mg}} (with the exception of {{chem|39|Mg}}). The longest-lived of them is {{chem|28|Mg}} with a half-life of 20.915 hours. The isotopes lighter than the stable ones mostly decay to isotopes of sodium, while those heavier decay to isotopes of aluminium.

A precise measurement of the neutron-rich ⁴⁰Mg in 2019 showed an unexpected difference in its nuclear structure, compared to the lighter neighboring isotopes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Glenn Jr. |date=2019-02-07 |title=New Measurements of Exotic Magnesium Suggest Surprising Shape-Shift |url=https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/02/07/new-measurements-exotic-magnesium-suggest-surprising-shape-shift/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Berkeley Lab News Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-01 |title=NP A Change in Structure for a Superheavy Magnesium Isotope|url=https://science.osti.gov/np/Highlights/2019/NP-2019-08-a |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=science.osti.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>

thumb|The abundances of the naturally occurring isotopes of magnesium.

== List of isotopes == {{Anchor|Magnesium-39|Magnesium-41}}

<!--Please delete anchor(s) from the list above or table below if adding a dedicated isotope section(s).-->

{{Isotopes table | symbol = Mg | refs = NUBASE2020, AME2020 II, IsotopeFRIB, IsomerFRIB | notes = mass#, unc(), var[], hl#, daughter-st, spin#, spin(), p, n, discoveryname }} |-id=Magnesium-18 | {{chem|18|Mg}}<ref name=18Mg>{{cite journal |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.262502 |title=First observation of the four-proton unbound nucleus ¹⁸Mg |last=Jin |first=Y. |display-authors=et al. |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=127 <!-- |issue=26 --> |number=262502 |date=2021|article-number=262502 |pmid=35029460 |osti=1837749 |s2cid=245434485 }}</ref> | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 6 | | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/18.pdf 2021] | {{val|4.0|(3.4)|u=zs}} | 2p | {{chem|16|Ne}}<ref group="n">Also immediately emits two protons for the net reaction of ¹⁸Mg -> ¹⁴O + 4 '''¹H'''</ref> | 0+ | | |-id=Magnesium-19 | {{chem|19|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 7 | {{val|19.034180|(60)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/19.pdf 2007] | {{val|5|(3)|u=ps}} | 2p | {{chem|17|Ne}} | 1/2−# | | |-id=Magnesium-20 | rowspan=2|{{chem|20|Mg}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 8 | rowspan=2|{{val|20.0187631|(20)}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/20.pdf 1974] | rowspan=2|{{val|90.4|(5)|u=ms}} | β⁺ ({{val|69.7|(1.2)|u=%}}) | {{chem|20|Na}} | rowspan=2|0+ | rowspan=2| | rowspan=2| |- | β⁺p ({{val|30.3|(1.2)|u=%}}) | {{chem|19|Ne}} |-id=Magnesium-21 | rowspan=4|{{chem|21|Mg}} | rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 9 | rowspan=4|{{val|21.0117058|(8)}} | rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/21.pdf 1965] | rowspan=4|{{val|120.0|(4)|u=ms}} | β⁺ ({{val|79.8|(2.1)|u=%}}) | {{chem|21|Na}} | rowspan=4|5/2+ | rowspan=4| | rowspan=4| |- | β⁺p ({{val|20.1|(2.1)|u=%}}) | '''{{chem|20|Ne}}''' |- | β⁺α ({{val|0.116|(18)|u=%}}) | {{chem|17|F}} |- | β⁺pα ({{val|0.016|(3)|u=%}}) | '''{{chem|16|O}}''' |-id=Magnesium-22 | {{chem|22|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 10 | {{val|21.99957060|(17)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/22.pdf 1961] | {{val|3.8745|(7)|u=s}} | β⁺ | {{chem|22|Na}} | 0+ | | |-id=Magnesium-23 | {{chem|23|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 11 | {{val|22.99412377|(3)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/23.pdf 1939] | {{val|11.3039|(32)|u=s}} | β⁺ | '''{{chem|23|Na}}''' | 3/2+ | | |-id=Magnesium-24 | {{chem|24|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 12 | {{val|23.985041689|(14)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/24.pdf 1920] | colspan=3 align=center|'''Stable''' | 0+ | colspan=2 align=center|[{{val|0.7888}},&nbsp;{{val|0.7905}}] |-id=Magnesium-25 | {{chem|25|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 13 | {{val|24.98583697|(5)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/25.pdf 1920] | colspan=3 align=center|'''Stable''' | 5/2+ | colspan=2 align=center|[{{val|0.09988}},&nbsp;{{val|0.10034}}] |-id=Magnesium-26 | {{chem|26|Mg}}<ref group="n">Used in radiodating events early in the Solar System's history, as product of the extinct ²⁶Al</ref> | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 14 | {{val|25.98259297|(3)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/26.pdf 1920] | colspan=3 align=center|'''Stable''' | 0+ | colspan=2 align=center|[{{val|0.1096}},&nbsp;{{val|0.1109}}] |-id=Magnesium-27 | {{chem|27|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 15 | {{val|26.98434065|(5)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/27.pdf 1934] | {{val|9.435|(27)|u=min}} | β⁻ | '''{{chem|27|Al}}''' | 1/2+ | | |-id=Magnesium-28 | {{chem|28|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 16 | {{val|27.98387543|(28)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/28.pdf 1953] | {{val|20.915|(9)|u=h}} | β⁻ | {{chem|28|Al}} | 0+ | | |-id=Magnesium-29 | {{chem|29|Mg}} | style="text-align:right" | 12 | style="text-align:right" | 17 | {{val|28.9886072|(4)}} | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/29.pdf 1971] | {{val|1.30|(12)|u=s}} | β⁻ | {{chem|29|Al}} | 3/2+ | | |-id=Magnesium-30 | rowspan=2|{{chem|30|Mg}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 18 | rowspan=2|{{val|29.9904655|(14)}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/30.pdf 1971] | rowspan=2|{{val|317|(4)|u=ms}} | β⁻ (> {{val|99.94|u=%}}) | {{chem|30|Al}} | rowspan=2|0+ | rowspan=2| | rowspan=2| |- | β⁻n (< {{val|0.06|u=%}}) | {{chem|29|Al}} |-id=Magnesium-31 | rowspan=2|{{chem|31|Mg}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 19 | rowspan=2|{{val|30.996648|(3)}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/31.pdf 1977] | rowspan=2|{{val|270|(2)|u=ms}} | β⁻ ({{val|93.8|(1.9)|u=%}}) | {{chem|31|Al}} | rowspan=2|1/2+ | rowspan=2| | rowspan=2| |- | β⁻n ({{val|6.2|(1.9)|u=%}}) | {{chem|30|Al}} |-id=Magnesium-32 | rowspan=2|{{chem|32|Mg}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 20 | rowspan=2|{{val|31.999110|(4)}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/32.pdf 1977] | rowspan=2|{{val|80.4|(4)|u=ms}} | β⁻ ({{val|94.5|(5)|u=%}}) | {{chem|32|Al}} | rowspan=2|0+ | rowspan=2| | rowspan=2| |- | β⁻n ({{val|5.5|(5)|u=%}}) | {{chem|31|Al}} |-id=Magnesium-33 | rowspan=3|{{chem|33|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 21 | rowspan=3|{{val|33.0053279|(29)}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/33.pdf 1979] | rowspan=3|{{val|92.0|(1.2)|u=ms}} | β⁻ ({{val|86|(2)|u=%}}) | {{chem|33|Al}} | rowspan=3|3/2− | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻n ({{val|14|(2)|u=%}}) | {{chem|32|Al}} |- | β⁻2n ? | {{chem|31|Al}} ? |-id=Magnesium-34 | rowspan=3|{{chem|34|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 22 | rowspan=3|{{val|34.008935|(7)}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/34.pdf 1979] | rowspan=3|{{val|44.9|(4)|u=ms}} | β⁻ (> {{val|78.9|(7.0)|u=%}}) | {{chem|34|Al}} | rowspan=3|0+ | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻n ({{val|21|(7)|u=%}}) | {{chem|33|Al}} |- | β⁻2n (< {{val|0.1|u=%}}) | {{chem|32|Al}} |-id=Magnesium-35 | rowspan=3|{{chem|35|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 23 | rowspan=3|{{val|35.01679|(29)}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/35.pdf 1989] | rowspan=3|{{val|11.3|(6)|u=ms}} | β⁻n ({{val|52|(46)|u=%}}) | {{chem|34|Al}} | rowspan=3|(3/2−,&nbsp;5/2−) | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻ ({{val|48|(46)|u=%}}) | {{chem|35|Al}} |- | β⁻2n ? | {{chem|33|Al}} ? |-id=Magnesium-36 | rowspan=3|{{chem|36|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 24 | rowspan=3|{{val|36.02188|(74)}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/36.pdf 1989] | rowspan=3|{{val|3.9|(1.3)|u=ms}} | β⁻ ({{val|52|(12)|u=%}}) | {{chem|36|Al}} | rowspan=3|0+ | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻n ({{val|48|(12)|u=%}}) | {{chem|35|Al}} |- | β⁻2n ? | {{chem|34|Al}} ? |-id=Magnesium-36m | {{chem|36m|Mg}} | colspan=3 style="text-indent:2em"| 833&nbsp;keV | style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/isomers/abstracts/12/36Mg-1.pdf 2024] | 90(⁺⁸⁰_-7)&nbsp;ms | IT | {{chem|36|Mg}} | (0⁺) | |-id=Magnesium-37 | rowspan=3|{{chem|37|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 25 | rowspan=3|{{val|37.03029|(75)}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/37.pdf 1996] | rowspan=3|{{val|8|(4)|u=ms}} | β⁻ ? | {{chem|37|Al}} ? | rowspan=3|(3/2−) | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻n ? | {{chem|36|Al}} ? |- | β⁻2n ? | {{chem|35|Al}} ? |-id=Magnesium-38 | rowspan=3|{{chem|38|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 26 | rowspan=3|{{val|38.03658|(54)}}# | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/38.pdf 2002] | rowspan=3|3.1(4&nbsp;(stat), 2&nbsp;(sys))&nbsp;ms<ref name=NR129>{{cite journal |last1=Crawford |first1=H. L. |last2=Tripathi |first2=V. |last3=Allmond |first3=J. M. |display-authors=et al. |title=Crossing ''N''&nbsp;{{=}}&nbsp;28 toward the neutron drip line: first measurement of half-lives at FRIB |date=2022 |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=129 |number=212501 |article-number=212501 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.212501|pmid=36461950 |bibcode=2022PhRvL.129u2501C |s2cid=253600995 |doi-access=free }}</ref> | β⁻n (81%) | {{chem|37|Al}} | rowspan=3|0+ | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻ (9%) | {{chem|38|Al}} |- | β⁻2n (9%) | {{chem|36|Al}} |-id=Magnesium-40 | rowspan=3|{{chem|40|Mg}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 12 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 28 | rowspan=3|{{val|40.05319|(54)}}# | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center" | [https://www.nndc.bnl.gov/discovery/abstracts/12/40.pdf 2007] | rowspan=3|1#&nbsp;ms [> {{val|170|u=ns}}] | β⁻ ? | {{chem|40|Al}} ? | rowspan=3|0+ | rowspan=3| | rowspan=3| |- | β⁻n ? | {{chem|39|Al}} ? |- | β⁻2n ? | {{chem|38|Al}} ? |- {{Isotopes table/footer}}

== See also == '''Daughter products other than magnesium''' * Isotopes of aluminum * Isotopes of sodium * Isotopes of neon * Isotopes of fluorine * Isotopes of oxygen

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Navbox element isotopes}}

Category:Isotopes of magnesium Category:Magnesium Magnesium