30Si

30Si is a stable isotope of the element silicon (atomic number 14) with a mass number of 30. It contains 14 protons and 16 neutrons. Like other even-even silicon isotopes, 30Si has a nuclear spin of zero, meaning it has no nuclear magnetic moment.

In nature, silicon consists mainly of 28Si, with smaller amounts of 29Si and 30Si. The natural abundance of 30Si is about 3%, making it the least abundant of the three common silicon isotopes. Because it is stable, 30Si does not decay and remains fixed in individual atoms over time.

30Si is of interest in a range of scientific fields. Isotopic ratios involving 30Si, such as 30Si/28Si, are measured with high-precision mass spectrometry to study geological and cosmochemical materials. Variations in silicon isotope compositions in meteorites, presolar grains, and other solar system materials provide insights into nucleosynthetic processes in stars and the history of the solar system. In astrophysics, silicon isotopes are used to trace stellar nucleosynthesis and to characterize the contributions of different stellar sources, including supernovae and asymptotic giant branch stars, to the solar system’s chemical inventory.

In laboratory and industrial contexts, the isotopic composition of silicon is relevant for certain high-precision measurements and materials science applications. Enriched silicon isotopes are used in research settings, while natural silicon is widely used in semiconductor technologies, with isotopic composition influencing some physical properties at advanced levels.

See also: silicon-28, silicon-29.