20Ne

20Ne is a stable isotope of the noble gas neon (element with atomic number 10). It has a mass number of 20, consisting of 10 protons and 10 neutrons. It is the most abundant isotope of natural neon, which also contains 21Ne and 22Ne. In natural neon, 20Ne accounts for about 90% of the isotope mix, with 21Ne and 22Ne contributing roughly 0.27% and 9.25%, respectively. The standard atomic weight of natural neon is about 20.1797 g/mol.

Nuclear properties of 20Ne are straightforward: it is stable and has a nuclear spin of 0+. Because its chemical identity is determined by the electron configuration, 20Ne behaves chemically like other neon isotopes; isotopic substitution does not alter chemical properties in any meaningful way. In stellar environments, 20Ne is produced primarily during helium burning by the alpha-capture reaction 16O(α,γ)20Ne. At higher temperatures, 20Ne can be further processed by additional alpha captures to form heavier nuclei such as 24Mg.

In applications, the predominance of 20Ne among neon isotopes makes it a common reference in isotope studies and calibration of analytical instruments. Neon gas mixtures used in lighting, vacuum systems, and calibration work often rely on known isotopic compositions. Isotopic ratios in geological and planetary materials, including 20Ne/22Ne and 21Ne/22Ne, are used to study cosmic ray exposure histories and solar wind implantation.

Overall, 20Ne is a stable, non-radioactive isotope with wide relevance in astrophysical nucleosynthesis, analytical chemistry, and planetary science due to its abundance and well-characterized properties.