cálcio40

Calcium-40 is the most abundant stable isotope of the element calcium. Its nucleus consists of 20 protons and 20 neutrons, giving it a mass number of 40. Calcium-40, denoted as 40Ca, is a key component of calcium-containing minerals and biological tissues.

In the Earth's crust, calcium-40 is primarily found as part of compounds like calcium carbonate (in limestone and marble) and calcium sulfate (in gypsum). It is also a vital element in the human body, playing crucial roles in bone and teeth structure, muscle contraction, nerve function, and blood clotting.

The abundance of calcium-40 is significant, making up about 96.94% of all naturally occurring calcium. This high prevalence is a result of its formation through various stellar nucleosynthesis processes, including the alpha process in massive stars.

While calcium-40 itself is not radioactive, other isotopes of calcium are. The stability of calcium-40 is attributed to the specific combination of protons and neutrons, which creates a tightly bound nucleus. Understanding the properties and abundance of calcium-40 is important in fields ranging from geology and materials science to biology and medicine.