170Er

170Er, or erbium-170, is a stable isotope of the lanthanide element erbium (chemical symbol Er) with atomic number 68. Its mass number is 170, which means the nucleus contains 68 protons and 102 neutrons. As an even-even nucleus (even numbers of protons and neutrons), 170Er has a ground-state spin of 0+.

Natural occurrence and abundance: 170Er is one of the stable isotopes of erbium that occur naturally. It is present in natural erbium alongside several other stable isotopes, contributing to the element’s overall isotopic composition. The exact natural fraction varies among samples and is typically described in the context of isotopic abundances of erbium.

Nuclear and structural properties: 170Er lies in the rare-earth region of the nuclear chart, where nuclei often exhibit collective, deformed shapes and rotational-like energy spectra. In nuclear models, 170Er is treated as a relatively stable, deformed nucleus with a characteristic set of low-lying excited states, including a 2+ level arising from collective motion. Its stability means it does not undergo radioactive decay under normal conditions.

Production, applications and analysis: As a stable isotope, 170Er is not used as a radiotracer. It is encountered in nature and can be separated or enriched for scientific analyses, such as precise isotopic measurements or studies of erbium’s natural isotopic composition. In materials science, erbium isotopes are sometimes considered in high-purity metal and alloy applications, though specific uses of 170Er are usually context-dependent.

See also: erbium, isotopes of erbium, nuclear stability, rare-earth elements.