Kr86

Kr-86, or krypton-86, is a stable isotope of the noble gas krypton (element with atomic number 36). It has a mass number of 86, corresponding to 36 protons and 50 neutrons. This isotope is one of several naturally occurring krypton isotopes, and its natural abundance is about 17% of krypton found in the Earth's atmosphere.

As a stable isotope, Kr-86 does not undergo radioactive decay and has a ground-state spin and parity of 0+. Its stability means it remains essentially unchanged on geological timescales, making it useful for comparative isotope studies.

Natural occurrence and context: Krypton in the atmosphere contains multiple stable isotopes, including Kr-78, Kr-80, Kr-82, Kr-83, Kr-84, and Kr-86 among others. Kr-86 is formed and preserved through natural processes and contributes to the isotopic composition used in geochemical and atmospheric research. Its presence in trace amounts is typical for krypton, a noble gas.

Applications and uses: Kr-86 is frequently employed in isotope ratio measurements using mass spectrometry. Because its mass is well defined and it is stable, Kr-86 serves as a reference or tracer in geochemical, hydrological, and atmospheric studies that analyze krypton isotope systems. It also features in broader isotope-dratio work that helps calibrate instruments and interpret noble gas data in planetary and environmental science.

See also: Krypton, Isotopes of krypton, Noble gases.