Selenium74

Selenium-74 is a stable isotope of the element selenium. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus. Selenium normally has 34 protons in its nucleus, and selenium-74 has 40 neutrons, bringing its total atomic mass to 74. Selenium has several stable isotopes, and selenium-74 is one of the most abundant.

This isotope is naturally occurring and is found in various geological formations and biological samples. Due to its stability, selenium-74 is not radioactive and does not decay over time. This property makes it useful in certain scientific applications where a non-radioactive tracer is needed.

In research, selenium-74 can be used in mass spectrometry to study the natural abundance variations of selenium isotopes in different environments. These variations can provide insights into geological processes, dietary intake of selenium, and metabolic pathways in living organisms. While other selenium isotopes, such as selenium-75, are radioactive and used in medical imaging, selenium-74's stability lends itself to different analytical and tracer applications. Its presence and abundance are important factors in understanding the overall isotopic composition of selenium in nature.