Isotopes of ytterbium

Isotopes of ytterbium (₇₀Yb)
Standard atomic weight Ar°(Yb)
	173.045±0.010; 173.05±0.02 (abridged);
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Naturally occurring ytterbium (₇₀Yb) is composed of seven stable isotopes:^{[n 1]} ¹⁶⁸Yb, ¹⁷⁰Yb–¹⁷⁴Yb, and ¹⁷⁶Yb, with ¹⁷⁴Yb being the most abundant (31.83% natural abundance). 30 radioisotopes have been characterized, with the most stable being ¹⁶⁹Yb with a half-life of 32.014 days, ¹⁷⁵Yb with a half-life of 4.185 days, and ¹⁶⁶Yb with a half-life of 56.7 hours. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are less than 2 hours, and the majority of these have half-lives that are less than 20 minutes. This element also has 18 meta states, with the most stable being ^169mYb (t_1/2 46 seconds).

The isotopes of ytterbium range from ¹⁴⁹Yb to ¹⁸⁷Yb. The primary decay mode before the most abundant stable isotope, ¹⁷⁴Yb is electron capture, and the primary mode after is beta emission. The primary decay products before ¹⁷⁴Yb are isotopes of thulium, and the primary products after are isotopes of lutetium. Of interest to modern quantum optics, the different ytterbium isotopes follow either Bose–Einstein statistics or Fermi–Dirac statistics, leading to interesting behavior in optical lattices.

List of isotopes

Nuclide ^{[n 2]}	Z	N	Isotopic mass (Da)^[4] ^{[n 3]}^{[n 4]}	Half-life^[1] ^{[n 5]}	Decay mode^[1] ^{[n 6]}	Daughter isotope ^{[n 7]}	Spin and parity^[1] ^{[n 5]}	Natural abundance (mole fraction)
Nuclide ^{[n 2]}	Excitation energy^{[n 5]}			Half-life^[1] ^{[n 5]}	Decay mode^[1] ^{[n 6]}	Daughter isotope ^{[n 7]}	Spin and parity^[1] ^{[n 5]}	Normal proportion^[1]	Range of variation
¹⁴⁹Yb	70	79	148.96422(32)#	0.7(2) s	β⁺, p	¹⁴⁸Er	(1/2+)
¹⁴⁹Yb	70	79	148.96422(32)#	0.7(2) s	β⁺ (rare)	¹⁴⁹Tm	(1/2+)
¹⁵⁰Yb	70	80	149.95831(32)#	700# ms [>200 ns]	β⁺?	¹⁵⁰Tm?	0+
¹⁵¹Yb	70	81	150.95540(32)	1.6(5) s	β⁺	¹⁵¹Tm	(1/2+)
¹⁵¹Yb	70	81	150.95540(32)	1.6(5) s	β⁺, p (rare)	¹⁵⁰Er	(1/2+)
^151m1Yb	740(100)# keV			1.6(5) s	β⁺	¹⁵¹Tm	(11/2−)
^151m1Yb	740(100)# keV			1.6(5) s	β⁺, p (rare)	¹⁵⁰Er	(11/2−)
^151m2Yb	2630(141)# keV			2.6(7) μs	IT	¹⁵¹Yb	19/2−#
^151m3Yb	3287(141)# keV			20(1) μs	IT	¹⁵¹Yb	27/2−#
¹⁵²Yb	70	82	151.95033(16)	3.03(6) s	β⁺	¹⁵²Tm	0+
^152mYb	2744.5(10) keV			30(1) μs	IT	¹⁵²Yb	(10+)
¹⁵³Yb	70	83	152.94937(22)#	4.2(2) s	β⁺	¹⁵³Tm	7/2−
¹⁵³Yb	70	83	152.94937(22)#	4.2(2) s	β⁺, p (0.008%)	¹⁵²Er	7/2−
^153mYb	2630(50)# keV			15(1) μs	IT	¹⁵³Yb	27/2−
¹⁵⁴Yb	70	84	153.946396(19)	0.409(2) s	α (92.6%)	¹⁵⁰Er	0+
¹⁵⁴Yb	70	84	153.946396(19)	0.409(2) s	β⁺ (7.4%)	¹⁵⁴Tm	0+
¹⁵⁵Yb	70	85	154.945783(18)	1.793(20) s	α (89%)	¹⁵¹Er	(7/2−)
¹⁵⁵Yb	70	85	154.945783(18)	1.793(20) s	β⁺ (11%)	¹⁵⁵Tm	(7/2−)
¹⁵⁶Yb	70	86	155.942817(10)	26.1(7) s	β⁺ (90%)	¹⁵⁶Tm	0+
¹⁵⁶Yb	70	86	155.942817(10)	26.1(7) s	α (10%)	¹⁵²Er	0+
¹⁵⁷Yb	70	87	156.942651(12)	38.6(10) s	β⁺	¹⁵⁷Tm	7/2−
¹⁵⁷Yb	70	87	156.942651(12)	38.6(10) s	α (rare)	¹⁵³Er	7/2−
¹⁵⁸Yb	70	88	157.939871(9)	1.49(13) min	β⁺ (99.99%)	¹⁵⁸Tm	0+
¹⁵⁸Yb	70	88	157.939871(9)	1.49(13) min	α (.0021%)	¹⁵⁴Er	0+
¹⁵⁹Yb	70	89	158.940060(19)	1.67(9) min	β⁺	¹⁵⁹Tm	5/2−
¹⁶⁰Yb	70	90	159.937559(6)	4.8(2) min	β⁺	¹⁶⁰Tm	0+
¹⁶¹Yb	70	91	160.937912(16)	4.2(2) min	β⁺	¹⁶¹Tm	3/2−
¹⁶²Yb	70	92	161.935779(16)	18.87(19) min	β⁺	¹⁶²Tm	0+
¹⁶³Yb	70	93	162.936345(16)	11.05(35) min	β⁺	¹⁶³Tm	3/2−
¹⁶⁴Yb	70	94	163.934501(16)	75.8(17) min	EC	¹⁶⁴Tm	0+
¹⁶⁵Yb	70	95	164.935270(28)	9.9(3) min	β⁺	¹⁶⁵Tm	5/2−
^165mYb	126.80(9) keV			300(30) ns	IT	¹⁶⁵Yb	9/2+
¹⁶⁶Yb	70	96	165.933876(8)	56.7(1) h	EC	¹⁶⁶Tm	0+
¹⁶⁷Yb	70	97	166.934954(4)	17.5(2) min	β⁺	¹⁶⁷Tm	5/2−
^167mYb	571.548(22) keV			~180 ns	IT	¹⁶⁷Yb	11/2−
¹⁶⁸Yb	70	98	167.9338913(1)	Observationally Stable^{[n 8]}			0+	0.00123(3)
¹⁶⁹Yb	70	99	168.93518421(19)	32.014(5) d	EC	¹⁶⁹Tm	7/2+
^169mYb	24.1999(16) keV			46(2) s	IT	¹⁶⁹Yb	1/2−
¹⁷⁰Yb	70	100	169.934767243(11)	Observationally Stable^{[n 9]}			0+	0.02982(39)
^170mYb	1258.46(14) keV			370(15) ns	IT	¹⁷⁰Yb	4−
¹⁷¹Yb	70	101	170.936331515(14)	Observationally Stable^{[n 10]}			1/2−	0.14086(140)
^171m1Yb	95.282(2) keV			5.25(24) ms	IT	¹⁷¹Yb	7/2+
^171m2Yb	122.416(2) keV			265(20) ns	IT	¹⁷¹Yb	5/2−
¹⁷²Yb	70	102	171.936386654(15)	Observationally Stable^{[n 11]}			0+	0.21686(130)
^172mYb	1550.43(6) keV			3.6(1) μs	IT	¹⁷²Yb	6−
¹⁷³Yb	70	103	172.938216212(12)	Observationally Stable^{[n 12]}			5/2−	0.16103(63)
^173mYb	398.9(5) keV			2.9(1) μs	IT	¹⁷³Yb	1/2−
¹⁷⁴Yb	70	104	173.938867546(12)	Observationally Stable^{[n 13]}			0+	0.32025(80)
^174m1Yb	1518.148(13) keV			830(40) μs	IT	¹⁷⁴Yb	6+
^174m2Yb	1765.2(5) keV			256(11) ns	IT	¹⁷⁴Yb	7−
¹⁷⁵Yb	70	105	174.94128191(8)	4.185(1) d	β⁻	¹⁷⁵Lu	7/2−
^175mYb	514.866(4) keV			68.2(3) ms	IT	¹⁷⁵Yb	1/2−
¹⁷⁶Yb	70	106	175.942574706(16)	Observationally Stable^{[n 14]}			0+	0.12995(83)
^176mYb	1049.8(6) keV			11.4(3) s	IT	¹⁷⁶Yb	8−
^176mYb	1049.8(6) keV			11.4(3) s	β⁻ (<10#%)	¹⁷⁶Lu	8−
¹⁷⁷Yb	70	107	176.94526385(24)	1.911(3) h	β⁻	¹⁷⁷Lu	9/2+
^177mYb	331.5(3) keV			6.41(2) s	IT	¹⁷⁷Yb	1/2−
¹⁷⁸Yb	70	108	177.946669(7)	74(3) min	β⁻	¹⁷⁸Lu	0+
¹⁷⁹Yb	70	109	178.94993(22)#	8.0(4) min	β⁻	¹⁷⁹Lu	(1/2−)
¹⁸⁰Yb	70	110	179.95199(32)#	2.4(5) min	β⁻	¹⁸⁰Lu	0+
¹⁸¹Yb	70	111	180.95589(32)#	1# min [>300 ns]	β⁻?	¹⁸¹Lu?	3/2−#
¹⁸²Yb^{[n 15]}	70	112	181.95824(43)#	30# s [>300 ns]	β⁻?	¹⁸²Lu?	0+
¹⁸³Yb	70	113	182.96243(43)#	30# s [>300 ns]	β⁻?	¹⁸³Lu?	3/2−#
¹⁸⁴Yb	70	114	183.96500(54)#	7# s [>300 ns]	β⁻?	¹⁸⁴Lu?	0+
¹⁸⁵Yb	70	115	184.96943(54)#	5# s [>300 ns]	β⁻?	¹⁸⁵Lu?	9/2−#
¹⁸⁶Yb^[5]	70	116					0+
¹⁸⁷Yb^[5]	70	117
This table header & footer: view

^ However, all seven of the isotopes are observationally stable, meaning that they are predicted to be radioactive but decay has not been observed yet.
^ ^mYb – 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).
^ ^a ^b ^c # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
^ Modes of decay:

EC: Electron capture

IT: Isomeric transition
^ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁴Er or β⁺β⁺ decay to ¹⁶⁸Er with a half-life over 130×10¹² years
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁶Er
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁷Er
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁸Er
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁹Er
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁷⁰Er
^ Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁷²Er or β⁻β⁻ decay to ¹⁷⁶Hf with a half-life over 160×10¹⁵ years
^ Cluster decay daughter of ²³²Th

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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: Ytterbium". CIAAW. 2015.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b Tarasov, O. B.; Gade, A.; Fukushima, K.; et al. (2024). "Observation of New Isotopes in the Fragmentation of ¹⁹⁸Pt at FRIB". Physical Review Letters. 132 (072501). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.072501.

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.

[4] However, all seven of the isotopes are observationally stable, meaning that they are predicted to be radioactive but decay has not been observed yet.

[5] Yb – Excited nuclear isomer.

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

[TMS-8] # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).

[TNN-9] # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).

[10] Modes of decay:

EC: Electron capture

IT: Isomeric transition

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

[12] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁴Er or β⁺β⁺ decay to ¹⁶⁸Er with a half-life over 130×10¹² years

[13] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁶Er

[14] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁷Er

[15] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁸Er

[16] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁶⁹Er

[17] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁷⁰Er

[18] Believed to undergo α decay to ¹⁷²Er or β⁻β⁻ decay to ¹⁷⁶Hf with a half-life over 160×10¹⁵ years

[19] Cluster decay daughter of ²³²Th

[NUBASE2020-1] 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] "Standard Atomic Weights: Ytterbium". CIAAW. 2015.

[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-6] 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.

[PRL132.7-20] Tarasov, O. B.; Gade, A.; Fukushima, K.; et al. (2024). "Observation of New Isotopes in the Fragmentation of ¹⁹⁸Pt at FRIB". Physical Review Letters. 132 (072501). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.072501.

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