134Ba

134Ba, or barium-134, is a nuclide of the element barium. It has 56 protons and a mass number of 134, which means it contains 78 neutrons. It is one of the stable isotopes of barium and occurs naturally in trace amounts as part of natural barium.

Stability and decay: 134Ba is considered stable and does not undergo radioactive decay under normal conditions. As a result, it is present in nature alongside other stable isotopes of barium and is used as a reference point in isotopic studies.

Occurrence and production: In nature, 134Ba is found together with other isotopes of barium in minerals and ores containing the element. It can also be produced synthetically in laboratory nuclear reactions. Like other stable isotopes, its abundance is measured and cataloged in isotopic analyses of barium-bearing materials.

Applications and significance: 134Ba is used in isotopic ratio measurements and mass spectrometry as part of calibration standards and tracer work. Its stable nature makes it useful for geochemical, cosmochemical, and hydrological studies that rely on precise Ba isotope ratios to interpret processes such as crustal differentiation, sedimentation, and fluid movement.

See also: Isotopes of barium, Ba-134 in geology, Isotope ratio mass spectrometry.