65Zn

65Zn is a radioactive isotope of zinc with mass number 65 and atomic number 30. It is produced artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators and is not found in significant quantities in nature. The nucleus decays by electron capture to the stable isotope 65Cu with a half-life of about 244 days. The decay emits gamma radiation, most notably a 1115 keV gamma ray that is detectable by standard gamma spectroscopy.

65Zn is typically produced by neutron activation of zinc, for example through the reaction 64Zn(n, gamma)65Zn in a research reactor. It can also be generated in accelerator facilities via other suitable nuclear reactions.

Applications of 65Zn include its use as a radiotracer in studies of zinc metabolism and transport in biological and environmental contexts, leveraging its chemical similarity to stable zinc. In instrumentation and detector testing, it has been used as a gamma-ray calibration source for spectrometers and related equipment.

Chemically, 65Zn behaves like zinc and forms similar Zn2+ species in solutions and on surfaces, so radiolabeling methods for zinc compounds can often be applied to experiments using this isotope. The long half-life and gamma emissions require careful handling, shielding, and storage, with waste managed as radioactive material. Sealed sources are commonly used for safety and controlled exposure.

In summary, 65Zn is a long-lived gamma-emitting zinc isotope produced mainly by neutron activation, used primarily as a radiotracer and as a calibration source in scientific settings.