46Ti

46Ti is a stable isotope of titanium with a mass number of 46 and 22 protons in the nucleus. As an even-even nucleus (both Z and N are even), its ground-state spin is 0 and its parity is positive. It is one of the five naturally occurring titanium isotopes.

In nature, 46Ti accounts for roughly 8 percent of titanium found on Earth. It occurs as part of natural titanium throughout minerals and rocks, contributing to the overall isotopic composition used in geochemical and cosmochemical studies. Because it is stable, 46Ti does not decay and its abundance remains constant over geological timescales.

46Ti is formed in stellar environments and is a component of the solar system’s primordial material. Its presence in terrestrial samples and meteorites makes it a useful reference in isotope ratio analyses. Researchers measure the relative abundances of titanium isotopes, including 46Ti, to investigate processes such as planetary differentiation, crustal evolution, and solar system formation.

Applications of 46Ti, often in conjunction with other titanium isotopes, include high-precision mass spectrometry for geochronology, cosmochemistry, and materials science. Because titanium isotopes are relatively resistant to chemical fractionation, they are suitable for studying natural processes that alter element ratios.

See also: Titanium isotopes, isotopic analysis, geochemistry, cosmochemistry.