svavel34

Svavel34, or sulfur-34 (34S), is a stable isotope of the chemical element sulfur (atomic number 16). Its nucleus contains 16 protons and 18 neutrons, giving a mass number of 34. It is one of the naturally occurring isotopes of sulfur, alongside 32S, 33S, and 36S.

In nature, 34S accounts for about 4% of sulfur. It occurs in elemental sulfur, sulfide minerals such as pyrite, and sulfates. The ratio of 34S to other sulfur isotopes is routinely measured in geochemistry and biogeochemistry to investigate sulfur sources and processes. Variations in this ratio are often expressed as δ34S on the Vienna-Canyon Diablo Troilite (VCDT) scale.

Nuclear properties of 34S reflect its stability: it is not radioactive, and its ground-state spin is 0+ for this even-even nucleus. Because it does not decay, 34S has no half-life and remains constant over geological timescales under normal conditions. Its abundance is supported by the overall binding energy of sulfur isotopes and by stable nuclear models.

Production and occurrence: 34S is produced in stellar nucleosynthesis and is incorporated into the solar system and Earth's materials. In laboratory settings, 34S can be enriched and isolated through isotope separation techniques. 34S-labeled compounds are commercially available for research purposes.

Applications: 34S is widely used as a stable tracer in biogeochemical and ecological studies, helping to track sulfur pathways in organisms and environments. It is also used as a standard or calibrant in isotope-ratio mass spectrometry and contributes to studies of the sulfur cycle and paleoclimate records through isotopic analysis.