Isotopes of silicon
Silicon (14Si) has 23 known isotopes, with mass numbers ranging from 22 to 44. 28Si (the most abundant isotope, at 92.23%), 29Si (4.67%), and 30Si (3.1%) are stable. The longest-lived radioisotope is 32Si, which is produced by cosmic ray spallation of argon. Its half-life has been determined to be approximately 150 years (with decay energy 0.21 MeV), and it decays by beta emission to 32P (which has a 14.27-day half-life)[1] and then to 32S. After 32Si, 31Si has the second longest half-life at 157.3 minutes. All others have half-lives under 7 seconds.
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Standard atomic weight Ar°(Si) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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List of isotopes
Nuclide [n 1] |
Z | N | Isotopic mass (Da)[4] [n 2][n 3] |
Half-life[1] [n 4] |
Decay mode[1] [n 5] |
Daughter isotope [n 6] |
Spin and parity[1] [n 7][n 4] |
Natural abundance (mole fraction) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excitation energy | Normal proportion[1] | Range of variation | |||||||||||||||||
22Si | 14 | 8 | 22.03611(54)# | 28.7(11) ms | β+, p (62%) | 21Mg | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β+ (37%) | 22Al | ||||||||||||||||||
β+, 2p (0.7%) | 20Na | ||||||||||||||||||
23Si | 14 | 9 | 23.02571(54)# | 42.3(4) ms | β+, p (88%) | 22Mg | 3/2+# | ||||||||||||
β+ (8%) | 23Al | ||||||||||||||||||
β+, 2p (3.6%) | 21Na | ||||||||||||||||||
24Si | 14 | 10 | 24.011535(21) | 143.2 (21) ms | β+ (65.5%) | 24Al | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β+, p (34.5%) | 23Mg | ||||||||||||||||||
25Si | 14 | 11 | 25.004109(11) | 220.6(10) ms | β+ (65%) | 25Al | 5/2+ | ||||||||||||
β+, p (35%) | 24Mg | ||||||||||||||||||
26Si | 14 | 12 | 25.99233382(12) | 2.2453(7) s | β+ | 26Al | 0+ | ||||||||||||
27Si | 14 | 13 | 26.98670469(12) | 4.117(14) s | β+ | 27Al | 5/2+ | ||||||||||||
28Si | 14 | 14 | 27.97692653442(55) | Stable | 0+ | 0.92223(19) | 0.92205–0.92241 | ||||||||||||
29Si | 14 | 15 | 28.97649466434(60) | Stable | 1/2+ | 0.04685(8) | 0.04678–0.04692 | ||||||||||||
30Si | 14 | 16 | 29.973770137(23) | Stable | 0+ | 0.03092(11) | 0.03082–0.03102 | ||||||||||||
31Si | 14 | 17 | 30.975363196(46) | 157.16(20) min | β− | 31P | 3/2+ | ||||||||||||
32Si | 14 | 18 | 31.97415154(32) | 157(7) y | β− | 32P | 0+ | trace | cosmogenic | ||||||||||
33Si | 14 | 19 | 32.97797696(75) | 6.18(18) s | β− | 33P | 3/2+ | ||||||||||||
34Si | 14 | 20 | 33.97853805(86) | 2.77(20) s | β− | 34P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
34mSi | 4256.1(4) keV | <210 ns | IT | 34Si | (3−) | ||||||||||||||
35Si | 14 | 21 | 34.984550(38) | 780(120) ms | β− | 35P | 7/2−# | ||||||||||||
β−, n? | 34P | ||||||||||||||||||
36Si | 14 | 22 | 35.986649(77) | 503(2) ms | β− (88%) | 36P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β−, n (12%) | 35P | ||||||||||||||||||
37Si | 14 | 23 | 36.99295(12) | 141.0(35) ms | β− (83%) | 37P | (5/2−) | ||||||||||||
β−, n (17%) | 36P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n? | 35P | ||||||||||||||||||
38Si | 14 | 24 | 37.99552(11) | 63(8) ms | β− (75%) | 38P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β−, n (25%) | 37P | ||||||||||||||||||
39Si | 14 | 25 | 39.00249(15) | 41.2(41) ms | β− (67%) | 39P | (5/2−) | ||||||||||||
β−, n (33%) | 38P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n? | 37P | ||||||||||||||||||
40Si | 14 | 26 | 40.00608(13) | 31.2(26) ms | β− (62%) | 40P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β−, n (38%) | 39P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n? | 38P | ||||||||||||||||||
41Si | 14 | 27 | 41.01417(32)# | 20.0(25) ms | β−, n (>55%) | 40P | 7/2−# | ||||||||||||
β− (<45%) | 41P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n? | 39P | ||||||||||||||||||
42Si | 14 | 28 | 42.01808(32)# | 15.5(4 (stat), 16 (sys)) ms[5] | β− (51%) | 42P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β−, n (48%) | 41P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n (1%) | 40P | ||||||||||||||||||
43Si | 14 | 29 | 43.02612(43)# | 13(4 (stat), 2 (sys)) ms[5] | β−, n (52%) | 42P | 3/2−# | ||||||||||||
β− (27%) | 43P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n (21%) | 41P | ||||||||||||||||||
44Si | 14 | 30 | 44.03147(54)# | 4# ms [>360 ns] | β−? | 44P | 0+ | ||||||||||||
β−, n? | 43P | ||||||||||||||||||
β−, 2n? | 42P | ||||||||||||||||||
This table header & footer: |
- mSi – 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).
- # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
-
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.
Silicon-28
Silicon-28, the most abundant isotope of silicon, is of particular interest in the construction of quantum computers when highly enriched, as the presence of 29Si in a sample of silicon contributes to quantum decoherence.[6] Extremely pure (>99.9998%) samples of 28Si can be produced through selective ionization and deposition of 28Si from silane gas.[7] Due to the extremely high purity that can be obtained in this manner, the Avogadro project sought to develop a new definition of the kilogram by making a 93.75 mm (3.691 in) sphere of the isotope and determing the exact number of atoms in the sample.[8][9]
Silicon-28 is produced in stars during the alpha process and the oxygen-burning process, and drives the silicon-burning process in massive stars shortly before they go supernova.[10][11]
Silicon-29
Silicon-29 is of note as the only stable silicon isotope with a nuclear spin (I = 1/2).[12] As such, it can be employed in nuclear magnetic resonance and hyperfine transition studies, for example to study the properties of the so-called A-center defect in pure silicon.[13]
Silicon-34
Silicon-34 is a radioactive isotope wth a half-life of 2.8 seconds.[1] In addition to the usual N = 20 closed shell, the nucleus also shows a strong Z = 14 shell closure, making it behave like a doubly magic spherical nucleus, except that it is also located two protons above an island of inversion.[14] Silicon-34 has an unusual "bubble" structure where the proton distribution is less dense at the center than near the surface, as the 2s1/2 proton orbital is almost unoccupied in the ground state, unlike in 36S where it is almost full.[15][16] Silicon-34 is one of the known cluster decay emission particles; it is produced in the decay of 242Cm with a branching ratio of approximately 1×10−16.[17]
References
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- "Beyond Six Nines: Ultra-enriched Silicon Paves the Road to Quantum Computing". NIST. 2014-08-11.
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- Powell, Devin (1 July 2008). "Roundest Objects in the World Created". New Scientist. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- Keats, Jonathon. "The Search for a More Perfect Kilogram". Wired. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- Woosley, S.; Janka, T. (2006). "The physics of core collapse supernovae". Nature Physics. 1 (3): 147–154. arXiv:astro-ph/0601261. Bibcode:2005NatPh...1..147W. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.336.2176. doi:10.1038/nphys172. S2CID 118974639.
- Narlikar, Jayant V. (1995). From Black Clouds to Black Holes. World Scientific. p. 94. ISBN 978-9810220334.
- Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
- Watkins, G. D.; Corbett, J. W. (1961-02-15). "Defects in Irradiated Silicon. I. Electron Spin Resonance of the Si- A Center". Physical Review. 121 (4): 1001–1014. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.121.1001. ISSN 0031-899X.
- Lică, R.; Rotaru, F.; Borge, M. J. G.; Grévy, S.; Negoiţă, F.; Poves, A.; Sorlin, O.; Andreyev, A. N.; Borcea, R.; Costache, C.; De Witte, H.; Fraile, L. M.; Greenlees, P. T.; Huyse, M.; Ionescu, A.; Kisyov, S.; Konki, J.; Lazarus, I.; Madurga, M.; Mărginean, N.; Mărginean, R.; Mihai, C.; Mihai, R. E.; Negret, A.; Nowacki, F.; Page, R. D.; Pakarinen, J.; Pucknell, V.; Rahkila, P.; Rapisarda, E.; Şerban, A.; Sotty, C. O.; Stan, L.; Stănoiu, M.; Tengblad, O.; Turturică, A.; Van Duppen, P.; Warr, N.; Dessagne, Ph.; Stora, T.; Borcea, C.; Călinescu, S.; Daugas, J. M.; Filipescu, D.; Kuti, I.; Franchoo, S.; Gheorghe, I.; Morfouace, P.; Morel, P.; Mrazek, J.; Pietreanu, D.; Sohler, D.; Stefan, I.; Şuvăilă, R.; Toma, S.; Ur, C. A. (11 September 2019). "Normal and intruder configurations in Si 34 populated in the β − decay of Mg 34 and Al 34". Physical Review C. 100 (3). arXiv:1908.11626. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.100.034306.
- "Physicists find atomic nucleus with a 'bubble' in the middle". 24 October 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- Mutschler, A.; Lemasson, A.; Sorlin, O.; Bazin, D.; Borcea, C.; Borcea, R.; Dombrádi, Z.; Ebran, J.-P.; Gade, A.; Iwasaki, H.; Khan, E.; Lepailleur, A.; Recchia, F.; Roger, T.; Rotaru, F.; Sohler, D.; Stanoiu, M.; Stroberg, S. R.; Tostevin, J. A.; Vandebrouck, M.; Weisshaar, D.; Wimmer, K. (February 2017). "A proton density bubble in the doubly magic 34Si nucleus". Nature Physics. 13 (2): 152–156. arXiv:1707.03583. doi:10.1038/nphys3916.
- Bonetti, R.; Guglielmetti, A. (2007). "Cluster radioactivity: an overview after twenty years" (PDF). Romanian Reports in Physics. 59: 301–310. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2016.