70Zn

70Zn is a stable isotope of zinc with atomic number 30 and mass number 70. It is one of the five naturally occurring stable zinc isotopes, the others being 64Zn, 66Zn, 67Zn, and 68Zn. In nature, 70Zn is relatively rare, accounting for approximately 0.6% of natural zinc.

As a nuclide with 40 neutrons, 70Zn is stable and does not undergo radioactive decay. Its stability means there is no half-life to report, and it remains present in zinc-bearing materials as a minor constituent of natural zinc.

Occurrence and production: 70Zn occurs in zinc ore minerals such as sphalerite and is extracted together with other zinc isotopes during the standard processing of zinc metal. The isotopic composition of zinc in a sample can be measured by mass spectrometry and is used in geochemical and archaeological investigations to study ore formation, provenance, and metallurgical processes.

Uses: In laboratory research, 70Zn serves as a stable isotope alongside other zinc isotopes in isotope ratio studies. Its small natural abundance provides a reference point for comparing relative abundances of zinc isotopes and for tracing nuclear or chemical processes in metallurgical and geochemical contexts.

See also: Zinc isotopes and isotopic notation.