Isotopes of gold
Gold (79 Au) has one stable isotope , 197 Au, and known radioisotopes ranging from 169 Au to 210 Au, with 195 Au being the most stable with a half-life of 186.01 days, followed by 196 Au at 6.165 days. Isotopes heavier than the stable mass number 197 generally decay by beta emission to mercury isotopes, while those lighter decay by electron capture to platinum isotopes or alpha emission to iridium isotopes; 196 decays both to platinum and to mercury. Of the meta states the most stable is 198m2 Au at 2.27 days.
Gold is currently the heaviest monoisotopic element (and is also mononuclidic ). Bismuth formerly held that distinction until alpha decay of the 209 Bi isotope was observed. All isotopes of gold are either radioactive or, in the case of 197 Au, observationally stable , meaning that 197 Au is predicted to be radioactive but no actual decay has been observed.[ 4]
List of isotopes
Nuclide[ n 1]
Z
N
Isotopic mass (Da ) [ 5] [ n 2] [ n 3]
Discovery year[ 6] [ 7]
Half-life [ 1] [ n 4]
Decay mode [ 1] [ n 5]
Daughter isotope [ n 6] [ n 7]
Spin andparity [ 1] [ n 8] [ n 4]
Isotopic abundance
Excitation energy[ n 4]
169 Au[ 8]
79
90
168.99808(32)#
(2000)[ n 9]
1.16+0.50 −0.47 μs
p (~94%)
168 Pt
(11/2−)
α (~6%)
165m Ir
170 Au[ 9]
79
91
169.99602(22)#
2004
286+50 −40 μs
p (89%)
169 Pt
(2)−
α (11%)
166 Ir
170m Au[ 9]
282(10) keV
2004
617+50 −40 μs
p (58%)
169 Pt
(9)+
α (42%)
166m Ir
171 Au[ 9]
79
92
170.991882(22)
1997
22+3 −2 μs
p
170 Pt
1/2+
α?
167 Ir
171m Au[ 9]
258(13) keV
1999
1.09(3) ms
α (66%)
167m Ir
11/2−
p (34%)
170 Pt
172 Au
79
93
171.99000(6)
1993
28(4) ms
α (98%)
168 Ir
(2)−
p (2%)
171 Pt
β+
172 Pt
172m Au[ n 10]
160(250) keV
2009
11.0(10) ms
α
168 Ir
(9,10)+
p?
171 Pt
173 Au
79
94
172.986224(24)
1983
25.5(8) ms
α (86%)
169 Ir
(1/2+)
β+ (14%)
173 Pt
173m Au
214(21) keV
1999
12.2(1) ms
α (89%)
169 Ir
(11/2−)
β+ (11%)
173 Pt
174 Au
79
95
173.98491(11)#
1983
139(3) ms
α (90%)
170 Ir
(3−)
β+ (10%)
174 Pt
174m Au
130(50)# keV
(2004)[ n 9]
162(2) ms
α?
170 Ir
(9+)
β+ ?
174 Pt
175 Au
79
96
174.98132(4)
1975
200(3) ms
α (88%)
171 Ir
1/2+
β+ (12%)
175 Pt
175m Au
164(11)# keV
2013
136(1) ms
α (75%)
171 Ir
(11/2−)
β+ (25%)
175 Pt
176 Au
79
97
175.98012(4)
1975
1.05(1) s
α (75%)
172 Ir
(3−,4−)
β+ (25%)
176 Pt
176m Au[ n 10]
139(13) keV
2014
1.36(2) s
α?
172 Ir
(8+,9+)
β+ ?
176 Pt
177 Au
79
98
176.976870(11)
1968
1.501(20) s
β+ (60%)
177 Pt
1/2+
α (40%)
173 Ir
177m Au
190(7) keV
2001
1.193(13) s
α (60%)
173 Ir
11/2−
β+ (40%)
177 Pt
178 Au
79
99
177.976057(11)
1968
3.4(5) s
β+ (84%)
178 Pt
(2+,3−)
α (16%)
174 Ir
178m1 Au
50.3(2) keV
2021
300(10) ns
IT
178 Au
(4−,5+)
178m2 Au
186(14) keV
2020
2.7(5) s
β+ (82%)
178 Pt
(7+,8−)
α (18%)
174 Ir
178m3 Au
243(14) keV
2021
390(10) ns
IT
178 Au
(5+,6)
179 Au
79
100
178.973174(13)
1968
7.1(3) s
β+ (78.0%)
179 Pt
1/2+
α (22.0%)
175 Ir
179m Au
89.5(3) keV
2011
327(5) ns
IT
179 Au
(3/2−)
180 Au
79
101
179.9724898(51)
1977
7.9(3) s
β+ (99.42%)
180 Pt
(1+)
α (0.58%)
176 Ir
181 Au
79
102
180.970079(21)
1968
13.7(14) s
β+ (97.3%)
181 Pt
(5/2−)
α (2.7%)
177 Ir
182 Au
79
103
181.969614(20)
1970
15.5(4) s
β+ (99.87%)
182 Pt
(2+)
α (0.13%)
178 Ir
183 Au
79
104
182.967588(10)
1968
42.8(10) s
β+ (99.45%)
183 Pt
5/2−
α (0.55%)
179 Ir
183m Au
73.10(1) keV
1984
>1 μs
IT
183 Au
(1/2)+
184 Au
79
105
183.967452(24)
1969
20.6(9) s
β+ (99.99%)
184 Pt
5+
α (0.013%)
180 Ir
184m Au
68.46(4) keV
1997
47.6(14) s
β+ (70%)
184 Pt
2+
IT (30%)
184 Au
α (0.013%)
180 Ir
185 Au
79
106
184.9657989(28)
1960
4.25(6) min
β+ (99.74%)
185 Pt
5/2−
α (0.26%)
181 Ir
185m Au[ n 10]
50(50)# keV
1968
6.8(3) min
β+
185 Pt
1/2+#
IT?
185 Au
186 Au
79
107
185.965953(23)
1960
10.7(5) min
β+
186 Pt
3−
α (8×10−4 %)
182 Ir
186m Au
227.77(7) keV
1985
110(10) ns
IT
186 Au
2+
187 Au
79
108
186.964542(24)
1955
8.3(2) min
β+
187 Pt
1/2+
α?
183 Ir
187m Au
120.33(14) keV
1983
2.3(1) s
IT
187 Au
9/2−
188 Au
79
109
187.9652480(29)
1955
8.84(6) min
β+
188 Pt
1−
189 Au
79
110
188.963948(22)
1955
28.7(4) min
β+
189 Pt
1/2+
α? (<3×10−5 %)
185 Ir
189m1 Au
247.25(16) keV
1966
4.59(11) min
β+
189 Pt
11/2−
IT?
189 Au
189m2 Au
325.12(16) keV
1975
190(15) ns
IT
189 Au
9/2−
189m3 Au
2554.8(8) keV
1975
242(10) ns
IT
189 Au
31/2+
190 Au
79
111
189.964752(4)
1959
42.8(10) min
β+
190 Pt
1−
α? (<10−6 %)
186 Ir
190m Au[ n 10]
200(150)# keV
1982
125(20) ms
IT
190 Au
11−#
β+ ?
190 Pt
191 Au
79
112
190.963716(5)
1954
3.18(8) h
β+
191 Pt
3/2+
191m1 Au
266.2(7) keV
1971
920(110) ms
IT
191 Au
11/2−
191m2 Au
2489.6(9) keV
1985
402(20) ns
IT
191 Au
31/2+
192 Au
79
113
191.964818(17)
1948
4.94(9) h
β+
192 Pt
1−
192m1 Au
135.41(25) keV
1982
29 ms
IT
192 Au
5+
192m2 Au
431.6(5) keV
1982
160(20) ms
IT
192 Au
11−
193 Au
79
114
192.964138(9)
1948
17.65(15) h
β+
193 Pt
3/2+
193m1 Au
290.20(4) keV
1954
3.9(3) s
IT (99.97%)
193 Au
11/2−
β+ (0.03%)
193 Pt
193m2 Au
2486.7(6) keV
1979
150(50) ns
IT
193 Au
31/2+
194 Au
79
115
193.9654191(23)
1948
38.02(10) h
β+
194 Pt
1−
194m1 Au
107.4(5) keV
1975
600(8) ms
IT
194 Au
5+
194m2 Au
475.8(6) keV
1975
420(10) ms
IT
194 Au
11−
195 Au
79
116
194.9650378(12)
1948
186.01(6) d
EC
195 Pt
3/2+
195m1 Au
318.58(4) keV
1955
30.5(2) s
IT
195 Au
11/2−
195m2 Au
2501(20)# keV
2013
12.89(21) μs
IT
195 Au
31/2(−)
196 Au
79
117
195.966571(3)
1937
6.165(11) d
β+ (93.0%)
196 Pt
2−
β− (7.0%)
196 Hg
196m1 Au
84.656(20) keV
1971
8.1(2) s
IT
196 Au
5+
196m2 Au
595.66(4) keV
1937
9.603(22) h
IT
196 Au
12−
197 Au[ n 11]
79
118
196.9665701(6)
1935
Observationally Stable [ n 12]
3/2+
1.0000
197m1 Au
409.15(8) keV
1945
7.73(6) s
IT
197 Au
11/2−
197m2 Au
2532.5(10) keV
2006
150(5) ns
IT
197 Au
27/2+#
198 Au
79
119
197.9682437(6)
1937
2.69464(14) d
β−
198 Hg
2−
198m1 Au
312.2227(20) keV
1968
124(4) ns
IT
198 Au
5+
198m2 Au
811.9(15) keV
1972
2.272(16) d
IT
198 Au
12−
199 Au
79
120
198.9687666(6)
1937
3.139(7) d
β−
199 Hg
3/2+
199m Au
548.9405(21) keV
1968
440(30) μs
IT
199 Au
11/2−
200 Au
79
121
199.970757(29)
1951
48.4(3) min
β−
200 Hg
(1−)
200m Au
1010(40) keV
1968
18.7(5) h
β− (84%)
200 Hg
12−
IT (16%)
200 Au
201 Au
79
122
200.971658(3)
1952
26.0(8) min
β−
201 Hg
3/2+
201m1 Au
594(5) keV
2011
730(630) μs
IT
201 Au
11/2-
201m2 Au
1610(5) keV
2011
5.6(24) μs
IT
201 Au
19/2+#
202 Au
79
123
201.973856(25)
1967
28.4(12) s
β−
202 Hg
(1−)
203 Au
79
124
202.9751545(33)
1952
60(6) s
β−
203 Hg
3/2+
203m Au
641(3) keV
2005
140(44) μs
IT
203 Au
11/2−#
204 Au
79
125
203.97811(22)#
1972
38.3(13) s
β−
204 Hg
(2−)
204m Au
3816(500)# keV
2011
2.1(3) μs
IT
204 Au
16+#
205 Au
79
126
204.98006(22)#
1994
32.0(14) s
β−
205 Hg
3/2+#
205m1 Au
907(5) keV
2009
6(2) s
IT?
205 Au
11/2−#
β− ?
205 Hg
205m2 Au
2849.7(4) keV
2011
163(5) ns
IT
205 Au
19/2+#
206 Au
79
127
205.98477(32)#
2011
47(11) s
β−
206 Hg
6+#
207 Au
79
128
206.98858(32)#
2010
3# s [>300 ns]
β− ?
207 Hg
3/2+#
β− , n ?
206 Hg
208 Au
79
129
207.99366(32)#
2010
20# s [>300 ns]
β− ?
208 Hg
6+#
β− , n?
207 Hg
209 Au
79
130
208.99761(43)#
2010
1# s [>300 ns]
β− ?
209 Hg
3/2+#
β− , n?
208 Hg
210 Au
79
131
210.00288(43)#
2010
10# s [>300 ns]
β− ?
210 Hg
6+#
β− , n?
209 Hg
This table header & footer:
↑ m Au – Excited nuclear isomer .
↑ ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
↑ # – Atomic mass marked # : value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
1 2 3 # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
↑
Modes of decay:
↑ Bold italics symbol as daughter – Daughter product is nearly stable.
↑ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
↑ ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
1 2 Only published in a conference proceeding and not a refereed journal
1 2 3 4 Order of ground state and isomer is uncertain.
↑ Potential material for salted bombs
↑ Theoretically predicted to undergo α decay to 193 Ir
See also
Daughter products other than gold
References
1 2 3 4 Kondev, F. G.; Wang, M.; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.; Audi, G. (2021). "The NUBASE2020 evaluation of nuclear properties" (PDF) . Chinese Physics C . 45 (3) 030001. doi :10.1088/1674-1137/abddae .
↑ "Standard Atomic Weights: Gold" . CIAAW . 2017.
↑ Prohaska, Thomas; Irrgeher, Johanna; Benefield, Jacqueline; Böhlke, John K.; Chesson, Lesley A.; Coplen, Tyler B.; Ding, Tiping; Dunn, Philip J. H.; Gröning, Manfred; Holden, Norman E.; Meijer, Harro A. J. (2022-05-04). "Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)" . Pure and Applied Chemistry . doi :10.1515/pac-2019-0603 . ISSN 1365-3075 .
↑ Belli, P.; Bernabei, R.; Danevich, F. A.; et al. (2019). "Experimental searches for rare alpha and beta decays". European Physical Journal A . 55 (8): 140–1–140–7. arXiv :1908.11458 . Bibcode :2019EPJA...55..140B . doi :10.1140/epja/i2019-12823-2 . ISSN 1434-601X . S2CID 201664098 .
↑ Wang, Meng; Huang, W.J.; Kondev, F.G.; Audi, G.; Naimi, S. (2021). "The AME 2020 atomic mass evaluation (II). Tables, graphs and references*". Chinese Physics C . 45 (3) 030003. doi :10.1088/1674-1137/abddaf .
↑ FRIB Nuclear Data Group. "Discovery of Nuclides Project, Isotope Database" . doi :10.11578/frib/2279152 .
↑ FRIB Nuclear Data Group. "Discovery of Nuclides Project, Isomer Database" . doi :10.11578/frib/2572219 .
↑ Uusitalo, J; Saren, J; Partanen, J; Hilton, J. "Mass Analyzing Recoil Apparatus MARA" .
1 2 3 4 Kettunen, H.; Enqvist, T.; Grahn, T.; Greenlees, P. T.; Jones, P.; Julin, R.; Juutinen, S.; Keenan, A.; Kuusiniemi, P.; Leino, M.; Leppänen, A.-P.; Nieminen, P.; Pakarinen, J.; Rahkila, P.; Uusitalo, J. (28 May 2004). "Decay studies of Au 170, 171, Hg 171 – 173, and Tl 176" . Physical Review C . 69 (5) 054323. doi :10.1103/PhysRevC.69.054323 . ISSN 0556-2813 . Retrieved 11 June 2023 .
Group
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Period
Hydrogen and alkali metals
Alkaline earth metals
Pnicto gens
Chal co gens
Halo gens
Noble gases
①
1
2
②
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
③
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
④
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
⑤
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
⑥
55
56
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
⑦
87
88
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
⑧
119
120
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102