208Pb207Pb

208Pb, 207Pb is a pair of isomers of lead, with distinct properties due to their nuclear structure. 208Pb is a stable, non-radioactive isotope of lead, with an atomic mass number of 208 and 82 protons. It is the most abundant isotope of lead, composing approximately 52% of natural lead.

On the other hand, 207Pb is a rare, stable isotope of lead, with an atomic mass number of 207 and 82 protons. It accounts for about 22% of natural lead. Despite being isobar, the two isotopes cannot convert into each other due to the requirement of a significant nuclear reaction, such as electron capture or beta decay, which is difficult to achieve under normal conditions.

These isotopes have different decay modes in artificial production through particle bombardment. 208Pb can be produced through the alpha decay of 212Po, a rare decay mode, whereas 207Pb cannot form this way. The applications of these isotopes are primarily in nuclear physics research, where they serve as reference points to study nuclear reactions and half-life. The unique properties of 208Pb and 207Pb make them crucial components in experiments to investigate nuclear stability and reaction pathways.

Natural lead samples show the typical 208Pb and 207Pb abundance ratio, with small variations depending on the geological source. The analysis of lead isotopes is often used to determine the origin and age of rocks based on the different decay modes of other lead isotopes. These properties have led to 208Pb and 207Pb being vital tools in various geological, nuclear, and environmental studies.