Is there no stable isotope of Tungsten?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Tungsten has no stable isotopes, as indicated by the absence of black squares in the isotope graph. The isotopes of Tungsten are theorized to undergo alpha decay, but their half-lives are so long that they remain unmeasured. While there are 90 stable nuclei, Tungsten isotopes fall into the category of "observationally stable," meaning they have not been observed to decay despite being energetically allowed to do so. This distinction highlights the complexity of nuclear stability and decay processes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear physics concepts, particularly isotopes and decay processes.
  • Familiarity with alpha decay and half-life terminology.
  • Knowledge of the periodic table and the properties of elements, specifically Tungsten.
  • Basic comprehension of observational stability in nuclear science.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and decay processes of Tungsten isotopes.
  • Study the concept of observational stability in nuclear physics.
  • Explore the mechanisms of alpha decay and its implications for isotopes.
  • Investigate the differences between stable and unstable isotopes across various elements.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in nuclear physics, researchers studying isotopic stability, and educators teaching advanced chemistry concepts.

swampwiz
Messages
567
Reaction score
83
I was looking at this neat graph of all the isotopes and which ones are stable and how they decay:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...otopes_en.svg/715px-Table_isotopes_en.svg.png

The black squares represent stable isotopes, and columns that have no such black squares have no stable isotopes. OK, I see Technetium & Prometheum, but I have also noticed such a column for Tungsten. The wiki article on Tungsten isotopes says that alpha decay for some of these is "theoretical". What is this all about?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I would say it means that there are Tungsten isotopes which have very long half lifes.
So long that it can't be measured, but not like C12 which is stable as the word stable can mean.
 
There are only 90 stable nuclei. 163 are energetically allowed to decay - sometimes via odd processes like double beta decay - but the decays are so slow that no decay has ever been observed. We call them "observationally stable".
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn

Similar threads

  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
7K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
17K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K