View source for Physics:Isotopes of sodium

{{Short description|Nuclides with atomic number of 11 but with different mass numbers}}
{{infobox sodium isotopes}}
There are 20 isotopes of [[Chemistry:Sodium|sodium]] (<sub>11</sub>Na), ranging from {{chem|17|Na}} to {{chem|39|Na}} (except for the still-unknown <sup>36</sup>Na and <sup>38</sup>Na),<ref name="RikenNa39">{{cite journal |last=Ahn |first=D.S. |display-authors=0 |title=Discovery of <sup>39</sup>Na |journal=[[Physics:Physical Review Letters|Physical Review Letters]] |volume=129 |issue=21 |article-number=212502 |date=2022-11-14 |page=212502 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.212502|pmid=36461972 |bibcode=2022PhRvL.129u2502A |s2cid=253591660 |doi-access=free }}</ref> and two [[Physics:Nuclear isomer|isomers]] ({{chem|22m|Na}} and {{chem|24m|Na}}). {{chem|23|Na}} is the only [[Physics:Stable nuclide|stable]] (and the only [[Chemistry:Primordial nuclide|primordial]]) isotope. It is considered a [[Monoisotopic element|monoisotopic element]] and it has a [[Physics:Standard atomic weight|standard atomic weight]] of {{val|22.98976928|(2)}}. Sodium has two [[Physics:Radioactive|radioactive]] cosmogenic isotopes ({{chem|22|Na}}, with a [[Physics:Half-life|half-life]] of {{val|2.6019|(6)|u=years}};{{refn|group=nb|name=NUBASE2020 tropical year|Note that NUBASE2020 uses the [[Astronomy:Tropical year|tropical year]] to convert between years and other units of time, not the Gregorian year. The relationship between years and other time units in NUBASE2020 is as follows: {{nowrap|1=1 y = 365.2422 d = 31 556 926 s}} }} and {{chem|link=Sodium-24|24|Na}}, with a half-life of {{val|14.9560|(15)|u=hours}}). With the exception of those two isotopes, all other isotopes have half-lives under a minute, most under a second. The shortest-lived is the unbound {{chem|18|Na}}, with a half-life of {{val|1.3|(4)|e=−21}} seconds (although the half-life of the similarly unbound <sup>17</sup>Na is not measured).

Acute neutron radiation exposure (e.g., from a nuclear [[Physics:Criticality accident|criticality accident]]) converts some of the stable {{chem|23|Na}} (in the form of Na<sup>+</sup> ion) in human blood plasma to {{chem|24|Na}}. By measuring the concentration of this isotope, the neutron radiation dosage to the victim can be computed.

{{chem|22|Na}} is a [[Physics:Positron|positron]]-emitting isotope with a remarkably long half-life. It is used to create test-objects and point-sources for [[Physics:Positron emission tomography|positron emission tomography]].

== List of isotopes ==
{{Isotopes table
|symbol=Na
|refs=NUBASE2020, AME2020 II
|notes=m, unc(), mass#, hl#, spin(), spin#, daughter-st, n, p, IT
}}
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-17}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|17}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 6
| {{val|17.037270|(60)}}
|
| [[Physics:Proton emission|p]]
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|16}}
| (1/2+)
|
|
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-18}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|18}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 7
| {{val|18.02688|(10)}}
| {{val|1.3|(4)|u=zs}}
| p=?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 2">Decay mode shown has been observed, but its intensity is not known experimentally.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|17}}
| 1−#
| 
| 
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-19}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|19}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 8
| {{val|19.013880|(11)}}
| > {{val|1|u=as}}
| p
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|18}}
| (5/2+)
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2|{{anchor|Sodium-20}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|20}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 9
| rowspan=2|{{val|20.0073543|(12)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|447.9|(2.3)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>+</sup> ({{val|75.0|(4)|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|20}}'''
| rowspan=2|2+
| rowspan=2|
| rowspan=2|
|-
| β<sup>+</sup>α ({{val|25.0|(4)|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Oxygen|16}}'''
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-21}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|21}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 10
| {{val|20.99765446|(5)}}
| {{val|22.4550|(54)|u=s}}
| β<sup>+</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|21}}'''
| 3/2+
| 
| 
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Physics:Sodium-22|{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|22}}]]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=2|{{val|21.99443742|(18)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|2.6019|(6)|u=y}}{{refn|group=nb|name=NUBASE2020 tropical year}}
| β<sup>+</sup> ({{val|90.57|(8)|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|22}}'''
| rowspan=2|3+
| rowspan=2|Trace<ref group="n" name="t">[[Physics:Cosmogenic nuclide|Cosmogenic nuclide]]</ref>
| rowspan=2|
|-
| [[Physics:Electron capture|ε]] ({{val|9.43|(6)|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Neon|22}}'''
|-
| style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|22m1}}
| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|583.05|(10)|u=keV}}
| {{val|243|(2)|u=ns}}
| IT
| {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|22}}
| 1+
|
|
|-
| style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|22m2}}
| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|657.00|(14)|u=keV}}
| {{val|19.6|(7)|u=ps}}
| IT
| {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|22}}
| 0+
|
|
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-23}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|23}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 12
| {{val|22.9897692820|(19)}}
| colspan=3 align=center|'''Stable'''
| 3/2+
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center"|{{val|1}}
|-
| [[Physics:Sodium-24|{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|24}}]]
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 13
| {{val|23.990963012|(18)}}
| {{val|14.9560|(15)|u=h}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|24}}'''
| 4+
| Trace<ref group="n" name="t" />
|
|-
| rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|24m}}
| rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|472.2074|(8)|u=keV}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|20.18|(10)|u=ms}}
| IT ({{val|99.95|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|24}}
| rowspan=2|1+
| rowspan=2|
| rowspan=2|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|0.05|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|24}}'''
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-25}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|25}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 14
| {{val|24.9899540|(13)}}
| {{val|59.1|(6)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|25}}'''
| 5/2+
|
|
|-
| {{anchor|Sodium-26}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|26}}
| style="text-align:right" | 11
| style="text-align:right" | 15
| {{val|25.992635|(4)}}
| {{val|1.07128|(25)|u=s}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|26}}'''
| 3+
|
|
|-
| style="text-indent:1em" | {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|26m}}
| colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" | {{val|82.4|(4)|u=keV}}
| {{val|4.35|(16)|u=µs}}
| IT
| {{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|26}}
| 1+
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2|{{anchor|Sodium-27}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|27}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 16
| rowspan=2| {{val|26.994076|(4)}}
| rowspan=2| {{val|301|(6)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|99.902|(24)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|27}}
| rowspan=2|5/2+
| rowspan=2|
| rowspan=2|
|-
| [[Physics:Neutron emission#Beta-delayed neutron emission|β<sup>−</sup>n]] ({{val|0.098|(24)|u=%}})
| '''{{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|26}}'''
|-
| rowspan=2|{{anchor|Sodium-28}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|28}}
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" | 17
| rowspan=2|{{val|27.998939|(11)}}
| rowspan=2|{{val|33.1|(1.3)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|99.42|(12)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|28}}
| rowspan=2|1+
| rowspan=2|
| rowspan=2|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|0.58|(12)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|27}}
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-29}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|29}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 18
| rowspan=3|{{val|29.002877|(8)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|43.2|(4)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|78|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|29}}
| rowspan=3|3/2+
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|22|(3)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|28}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1">Decay mode shown is energetically allowed, but has not been experimentally observed to occur in this nuclide.</ref>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|27}} ?
|-
| rowspan=4|{{anchor|Sodium-30}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|30}}
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 19
| rowspan=4|{{val|30.009098|(5)}}
| rowspan=4|{{val|45.9|(7)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|70.2|(2.2)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|30}}
| rowspan=4|2+
| rowspan=4|
| rowspan=4|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|28.6|(2.2)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|29}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ({{val|1.24|(19)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|28}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>α ({{val|5.5e-5|(2)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Neon|26}}
|-
| rowspan=4|{{anchor|Sodium-31}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|31}}
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" | 20
| rowspan=4|{{val|31.013147|(15)}}
| rowspan=4|{{val|16.8|(3)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> (> {{val|63.2|(3.5)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|31}}
| rowspan=4|3/2+
| rowspan=4|
| rowspan=4|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|36.0|(3.5)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|30}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ({{val|0.73|(9)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|29}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>3n (< {{val|0.05|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|28}}
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-32}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|32}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 21
| rowspan=3|{{val|32.020010|(40)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|12.9|(3)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|66.4|(6.2)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|32}}
| rowspan=3|(3−)
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|26|(6)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|31}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ({{val|7.6|(1.5)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|30}}
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-33}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|33}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 22
| rowspan=3|{{val|33.02553|(48)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|8.2|(4)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup>n ({{val|47|(6)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|32}}
| rowspan=3|(3/2+)
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> ({{val|40.0|(6.7)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|33}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ({{val|13|(3)|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|31}}
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-34}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|34}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 23
| rowspan=3|{{val|34.03401|(64)}}
| rowspan=3|{{val|5.5|(1.0)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup>2n (~{{val|50|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|32}}
| rowspan=3|1+
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup> (~{{val|35|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|34}}
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n (~{{val|15|u=%}})
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|33}}
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-35}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|35}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 24
| rowspan=3|{{val|35.04061|(72)}}#
| rowspan=3|{{val|1.5|(5)|u=ms}}
| β<sup>−</sup>
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|35}}
| rowspan=3|3/2+#
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|34}} ?
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|33}} ?
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-37}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|37}}
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 26
| rowspan=3|{{val|37.05704|(74)}}#
| rowspan=3|1#&nbsp;ms [> {{val|1.5|u=µs}}]
| β<sup>−</sup> ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|37}} ?
| rowspan=3|3/2+#
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|36}} ?
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|35}} ?
|-
| rowspan=3|{{anchor|Sodium-39}}{{SimpleNuclide|Sodium|39}}<ref name="RikenNa39" />
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 11
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" | 28
| rowspan=3|{{val|39.07512|(80)}}#
| rowspan=3|1#&nbsp;ms [> {{val|400|u=ns}}]
| β<sup>−</sup> ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|39}} ?
| rowspan=3|3/2+#
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|38}} ?
|-
| β<sup>−</sup>2n ?<ref group="n" name="decay mode 1" />
| {{SimpleNuclide|Magnesium|37}} ?
|-
{{Isotopes table/footer}}

==Sodium-22==
Sodium-22 is a [[Physics:Radioactive|radioactive]] isotope of sodium, undergoing [[Physics:Positron emission|positron emission]] to {{chem|link=Isotopes of neon|22|Ne}} with a half-life of {{val|2.6019|(6)|u=years}}. {{chem|22|Na}} is being investigated as an efficient generator of "cold [[Physics:Positron|positron]]s" ([[Physics:Antimatter|antimatter]]) to produce [[Physics:Muon|muon]]s for [[Physics:Muon-catalyzed fusion|catalyzing fusion of deuterium]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} It is also commonly used as a positron source in [[Physics:Positron annihilation spectroscopy|positron annihilation spectroscopy]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Saro|first1=Matúš|last2=Kršjak|first2=Vladimír|last3=Petriska|first3=Martin|last4=Slugeň|first4=Vladimír|date=2019-07-29|title=Sodium-22 source contribution determination in positron annihilation measurements using GEANT4|url=https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.5119492|journal=AIP Conference Proceedings|volume=2131|issue=1|pages=020039|doi=10.1063/1.5119492|bibcode=2019AIPC.2131b0039S |s2cid=201349680 |issn=0094-243X}}</ref>

==Sodium-23==
Sodium-23 is an isotope of sodium with an atomic mass of 22.98976928. It is the only stable isotope of sodium, and because of its abundance, it has been used for [[Physics:Nuclear magnetic resonance|nuclear magnetic resonance]] in various research fields, including materials science and battery research.<ref>{{cite journal| last = Gotoh| first = Kazuma |title = 23Na Solid-State NMR Analyses for Na-Ion Batteries and Materials| date = 8 February 2021 | url = https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/batt.202000295 | journal = Batteries & Supercaps
| volume = 4 |issue =8 | pages = 1267–127| doi = 10.1002/batt.202000295 | s2cid = 233827472 }}</ref> Sodium-23 relaxation has applications in studying cation-biomolecule interactions, intracellular and extracellular sodium, ion transport in batteries, and quantum information processing.<ref>{{Cite journal| last1 = Song| first1 = Yifan| last2 = Yin | first2 = Yu| last3 = Chen| first3 = Qinlong| last4 = Marchetti| first4 = Alessandro | last5 = Kong| first5 = Xueqian| title = 23Na relaxometry: An overview of theory and applications| journal = Magnetic Resonance Letters| year = 2023 | volume =3| issue =2 |pages =150–174 | doi = 10.1016/j.mrl.2023.04.001| doi-access = free}}</ref>

==Sodium-24==
Sodium-24 is radioactive and can be created from common sodium-23 by [[Physics:Neutron activation|neutron activation]]. With a half-life of {{val|14.9560|(15)|u=hours}}, {{chem|24|Na}} decays to {{chem|link=Isotopes of magnesium|24|Mg}} by emission of an [[Physics:Electron|electron]] and two [[Physics:Gamma ray|gamma ray]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/sodium-24|title=sodium-24|publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref><ref name="neutron-dose-assessment"/>

Exposure of the human body to intense [[Physics:Neutron radiation|neutron radiation]] creates {{chem|24|Na}} in the [[Biology:Blood plasma|blood plasma]]. Measurements of its quantity can be done to determine the absorbed radiation dose of a patient.<ref name="neutron-dose-assessment">{{cite journal|title=Neutron dose assessment using samples of human blood and hair |first1=Daniela |last1=Ekendahl |first2=Peter |last2=Rubovič |first3=Pavel |last3=Žlebčík |first4=Ivan |last4=Hupka |first5=Ondřej |last5=Huml |first6=Věra |last6=Bečková |first7=Helena |last7=Malá |date=7 November 2019 |doi=10.1093/rpd/ncz202|journal=Radiation Protection Dosimetry|volume=186|issue=2–3|pages=202–205|pmid=31702764 }}</ref> This can be used to determine the type of medical treatment required.

When sodium is used as coolant in fast breeder reactors, {{chem|24|Na}} is created, which makes the coolant radioactive. When the {{chem|24|Na}} decays, it causes a buildup of magnesium in the coolant. Since the half-life is short, the {{chem|24|Na}} portion of the coolant ceases to be radioactive within a few days after removal from the reactor. Leakage of the hot sodium from the primary loop may cause radioactive fires,<ref>[https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/te_1180_prn.pdf Unusual occurrences during LMFR operation], Proceedings of a Technical Committee meeting held in Vienna, 9–13 November 1998, [[Organization:International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]]. Pages 84, 122.</ref> as it can ignite in contact with air (and explodes in contact with water). For this reason the primary cooling loop is within a containment vessel.

Sodium has been proposed as a casing for a salted bomb, as it would convert to {{chem|24|Na}} and produce intense gamma-ray emissions for a few days.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine = {{wipe|Time (magazine)}}|url = http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828877,00.html|title = Science: fy for Doomsday|date = November 24, 1961|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160314102436/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828877,00.html|url-status = live|url-access = subscription|archive-date = March 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | first=W. H. | last=Clark | title=Chemical and Thermonuclear Explosives | journal=[[Physics:Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]] | year=1961 | volume=17 | issue=9 | pages=356–360 | doi=10.1080/00963402.1961.11454268| bibcode=1961BuAtS..17i.356C }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070712011829/http://ie.lbl.gov/education/parent/Na_iso.htm Sodium isotopes data from ''The Berkeley Laboratory Isotopes Project's'']

{{Navbox element isotopes}}

[[Category:Isotopes of sodium| ]]
[[Category:Sodium]]
[[Category:Lists of isotopes by element|Sodium]]

{{Sourceattribution|Isotopes of sodium}}