Li31

Li31 is a theoretical isotope of lithium with mass number 31. In this notation, lithium would have three protons (Z = 3) and 28 neutrons, giving it the nucleus ^31Li. It is not known to exist as a bound, observable nucleus and is typically considered extremely neutron-rich and well beyond the neutron drip line for lithium.

Stability and decay: Models of nuclear structure place Li31 beyond the limits of binding for lithium isotopes. If produced, such a nucleus is expected to be highly unstable and to decay rapidly, most likely by neutron emission or by beta decay to a neighbouring element. Because it lies far from stability, precise decay pathways and half-lives are highly model-dependent and, as of the present state of knowledge, unmeasured.

Production and study: Li31 has not been observed experimentally. Hypothetical creation would require high-energy collisions that fragment or fuse heavier nuclei, such as in advanced accelerator facilities. Detection would rely on fast, short-lived signals and separation by mass-to-charge ratios. Its study would primarily inform theoretical models of nuclear forces and the behavior of neutron-rich systems near the drip line, contributing to the broader understanding of nuclear structure in light elements.

Context: Li31 sits among the chain of lithium isotopes that extend into increasingly neutron-rich territories. While isotopes like Li-6 and Li-7 are well known, Li-31 remains a theoretical construct used to probe the limits of nuclear binding and the distribution of neutrons in light nuclei.