Question: Using a nuclidic chart, write the symbols for (a) all stable isotopes with Z = 60, (b) all radioactive nuclides with N = 60, and (c) all nuclides with A = 60.

The atomic number Z = 60, neutron number N = 60 and mass number A = 60 with a nuclidic chart are given.

A nuclidic chart is a two-dimensional graph of isotopes of the elements, in which one axis represents the number of neutrons and the other represents the number of protons in the atomic nucleus. Each box represents a particular nuclide and is color-coded according to its predominant decay mode.

According to Appendix F, the atomic number 60 corresponds to the element neodymium (). The first Web site mentioned above gives ${}^{142}\mathrm{ND},{}^{143}N0D,{}^{144}\mathrm{ND},{}^{145}\mathrm{ND},{}^{146}\mathrm{ND},{}^{148}\mathrm{ND},{}^{150}\mathrm{ND}$in its list of naturally occurring isotopes. Two of these, ${}^{144}\mathrm{ND}\mathrm{and}{}^{150}\mathrm{ND}$are not perfectly stable, but their half-lives are much longer than the age of the universe.

Hence, the stable nuclides are ${}^{142}\mathrm{ND},{}^{143}\mathrm{ND},{}^{145}\mathrm{ND},{}^{146}\mathrm{ND},{}^{148}\mathrm{ND}$.

In this list, we are asked to put the nuclides that contain 60 neutrons and that are recognized to exist but not stable nuclei (this is why, for example,${}^{108}\mathrm{CD}$is not included here). Although the problem does not ask for it, we include the half-lives of the nuclides in our list, though it must be admitted that not all reference sources agree on those values (we picked ones we regarded as “most reliable”). Thus, we have ${}^{97}\mathrm{RB}\left(0.2\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{98}\mathrm{Sr}\left(0.7s\right),{}^{99}\mathrm{Y}\left(2\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{100}\mathrm{ZR}\left(7s\right),{}^{101}\mathrm{Nb}\left(7s\right),{}^{102}\mathrm{Mo}\left(11\mathrm{minutes}\right),{}^{103}\mathrm{Tc}\left(54\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{105}\mathrm{Rh}\left(35\mathrm{hours}\right),{}^{109}\mathrm{In}\left(4\mathrm{hours}\right),{}^{110}\mathrm{Sn}\left(4\mathrm{hours}\right),{}^{111}\mathrm{Sb}\left(75\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{112}\mathrm{Te}\left(2\min \right),{}^{113}\mathrm{l}\left(7\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{114}\mathrm{Xe}\left(10\mathrm{s}\right),{}^{114}\mathrm{Cs}\left(1.4\mathrm{s}\right)\mathrm{and}{}^{116}\mathrm{Ba}\left(1.4\mathrm{s}\right)$

Hence, all the radionuclides are${}^{97}\mathrm{RB},{}^{98}\mathrm{Sr},{}^{99}\mathrm{Y},{}^{100}\mathrm{ZR},{}^{101}\mathrm{Nb},{}^{102}\mathrm{Mo},{}^{103}\mathrm{Tc},{}^{105}\mathrm{Rh},{}^{109}\mathrm{In},{}^{110}\mathrm{Sn},{}^{111}\mathrm{Sb},{}^{112}\mathrm{Te},{}^{113}\mathrm{l},{}^{114}\mathrm{Xe},{}^{114}\mathrm{Cs}\mathrm{and}{}^{116}\mathrm{Ba}$

From the nuclidic chart, the nuclides with A = 60 that include the list are ${}^{60}\mathrm{Zn},{}^{60}\mathrm{Cu},{}^{60}\mathrm{Ni},{}^{60}\mathrm{Co},{}^{60}\mathrm{Fe},{}^{60}\mathrm{Mn},{}^{60}\mathrm{Cr},\mathrm{and}{}^{60}\mathrm{V}$.