49Sc

49Sc, or scandium-49, is a radioactive isotope of the element scandium (atomic number 21). It has 21 protons and 28 neutrons, and it is one of several isotopes of scandium. The only stable isotope of scandium is 45Sc, so 49Sc does not occur naturally in any significant quantity and is produced in laboratory settings through nuclear reactions.

Decay and nuclear properties: 49Sc decays primarily by beta minus decay to 49Ti (titanium-49). This decay mode changes one neutron into a proton, increasing the atomic number from 21 to 22 while keeping the mass number at 49. The decay schemes for 49Sc can include gamma emissions from excited states of the daughter nucleus, depending on the specific transition.

Production: 49Sc is synthesized in particle accelerators or nuclear reactors. Common production routes involve irradiation of calcium or titanium targets with protons or neutrons, followed by chemical separation to isolate scandium from the target materials. Because 49Sc is not abundant in nature, its supply relies on targeted production in specialized facilities.

Chemistry and applications: Chemically, 49Sc behaves like other scandium isotopes, sharing its element’s chemical properties. In practice, 49Sc is mainly of interest for nuclear physics research and as a calibration or tracer isotope in certain experiments. Its relatively short or moderate half-life and production requirements limit its use outside of controlled laboratory settings.

See also: Isotopes of scandium, beta decay, scandium in science.