162Er

162Er is a nuclide of the element erbium (Er), which has atomic number 68 and a mass number of 162. It is one of the stable isotopes of erbium and occurs in nature as part of the element’s isotopic mixture.

Stability and properties: As a stable isotope, 162Er has no known radioactive decay and is not associated with a measurable half-life. Like other erbium isotopes, its nucleus is part of the heavy-nucleus region where nuclear binding is sufficient to prevent spontaneous decay on geological timescales.

Natural occurrence: In natural erbium, 162Er is present as a relatively small fraction compared with some of the more abundant erbium isotopes. The exact natural abundance varies by ore and measurement method, but 162Er contributes to the overall isotopic composition of erbium found in minerals and materials.

Production and applications: In laboratory settings, 162Er can be studied through isotope separation after nuclear reactions or by direct measurement in natural samples; its isotopic ratio with other erbium isotopes is determined by mass spectrometry. Such measurements support geochemical and cosmochemical research and aid calibration of analytical techniques that rely on precise isotope ratios.

See also: Erbium, Isotopes of erbium.