zinc68

Zinc-68 (68Zn) is a stable isotope of zinc, containing 30 protons and 38 neutrons. It is one of the naturally occurring isotopes of zinc and contributes to the element’s overall atomic mass.

In nature, 68Zn makes up a significant portion of zinc’s isotopic composition, accounting for roughly 18% of natural zinc. Together with other stable zinc isotopes, it forms the isotopic stack that is measured in analytical studies and traceable in isotope ratio analyses.

As a stable nuclide, 68Zn does not undergo radioactive decay. It is detected and quantified in samples using mass spectrometry techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or isotope ratio methods, to determine isotopic ratios and abundances.

Applications of zinc isotopes, including 68Zn, span research and industry. Stable isotopes are used as tracers in nutritional and biomedical studies to investigate zinc metabolism, and in geology and archaeology for provenance and sediment studies. They also aid in materials science and metallurgical research by characterizing zinc-containing alloys and processes. While 68Zn itself is primarily of interest for isotopic analysis, its abundance and mass help calibrate high-precision measurements and support broader zinc isotope research.