Naturally occurring

manganese Manganese is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese was first isolated in the 1770s. It is a transition m ...

(₂₅Mn) is composed of one stable

isotope Isotopes are distinct nuclear species (or ''nuclides'') of the same chemical element. They have the same atomic number (number of protons in their Atomic nucleus, nuclei) and position in the periodic table (and hence belong to the same chemica ...

, ⁵⁵Mn. Twenty-seven

radioisotope A radionuclide (radioactive nuclide, radioisotope or radioactive isotope) is a nuclide that has excess numbers of either neutrons or protons, giving it excess nuclear energy, and making it unstable. This excess energy can be used in one of three ...

s have been characterized, with the most stable being ⁵³Mn with a

half-life Half-life is a mathematical and scientific description of exponential or gradual decay. Half-life, half life or halflife may also refer to: Film * Half-Life (film), ''Half-Life'' (film), a 2008 independent film by Jennifer Phang * ''Half Life: ...

of 3.7 million years, ⁵⁴Mn with a half-life of 312.3 days, and ⁵²Mn with a half-life of 5.591 days. All of the remaining

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is conside ...

isotopes have half-lives that are less than 3 hours and the majority of these have half-lives that are less than a minute. This element also has seven

meta state A nuclear isomer is a metastable state of an atomic nucleus, in which one or more nucleons (protons or neutrons) occupy excited state levels (higher energy levels). "Metastable" describes nuclei whose excited states have half-lives of 10−9 s ...

s. Manganese is part of the

iron group In chemistry and physics, the iron group refers to elements that are in some way related to iron; mostly in period (row) 4 of the periodic table. The term has different meanings in different contexts. In chemistry, the term is largely obsolete, ...

of elements, which are thought to be synthesized in large

star A star is a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by Self-gravitation, self-gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night sk ...

s shortly before

supernova A supernova (: supernovae or supernovas) is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. A supernova occurs during the last stellar evolution, evolutionary stages of a massive star, or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion ...

explosions. ⁵³Mn decays to ⁵³ Cr with a

of 3.7 million years. Because of its relatively short half-life, ⁵³Mn occurs only in tiny amounts due to the action of

cosmic rays Cosmic rays or astroparticles are high-energy particles or clusters of particles (primarily represented by protons or atomic nuclei) that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from the Sun, from outside of the Solar ...

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

in rocks. Manganese isotopic contents are typically combined with

chromium Chromium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6 element, group 6. It is a steely-grey, Luster (mineralogy), lustrous, hard, and brittle transition metal. Chromium ...

isotopic contents and have found application in

isotope geology Isotope geochemistry is an aspect of geology based upon the study of natural variations in the relative abundances of isotopes of various elements. Variations in isotopic abundance are measured by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and can reveal ...

and

radiometric dating Radiometric dating, radioactive dating or radioisotope dating is a technique which is used to Chronological dating, date materials such as Rock (geology), rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurity, impurities were selectively incorporat ...

. Mn−Cr isotopic ratios reinforce the evidence from ²⁶Al and ¹⁰⁷Pd for the early history of the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Sola ...

. Variations in ⁵³Cr/⁵²Cr and Mn/Cr ratios from several

meteorite A meteorite is a rock (geology), rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical ...

s indicate an initial ⁵³Mn/⁵⁵Mn ratio that suggests Mn−Cr isotopic systematics must result from in-situ decay of ⁵³Mn in differentiated planetary bodies. Hence ⁵³Mn provides additional evidence for

nucleosynthetic Nucleosynthesis is the process that creates new atomic nuclei from pre-existing nucleons (protons and neutrons) and nuclei. According to current theories, the first nuclei were formed a few minutes after the Big Bang, through nuclear reactions ...

processes immediately before coalescence of the

. The isotopes of manganese range from ⁴⁶Mn to ⁷³Mn. The primary

decay mode Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is conside ...

before the most abundant stable isotope, ⁵⁵Mn, is

electron capture Electron capture (K-electron capture, also K-capture, or L-electron capture, L-capture) is a process in which the proton-rich nucleus of an electrically neutral atom absorbs an inner atomic electron, usually from the K or L electron shells. Th ...

and the primary mode after is

beta decay In nuclear physics, beta decay (β-decay) is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits a beta particle (fast energetic electron or positron), transforming into an isobar of that nuclide. For example, beta decay of a neutron ...

List of isotopes

, -id=Manganese-46 , rowspan=4, ⁴⁶Mn , rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=4 style="text-align:right" , 21 , rowspan=4, 45.986669(93) , rowspan=4, 36.2(4) ms , β⁺, p (57.0%) , ⁴⁵V , rowspan=4, (4+) , rowspan=4, , - , β⁺ (25%) , ⁴⁶Cr , - , β⁺, 2p (18%) , ⁴⁴Ti , - , β⁺, α? , ⁴²Ti , -id=Manganese-47 , rowspan=2, ⁴⁷Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 22 , rowspan=2, 46.975774(34) , rowspan=2, 88.0(13) ms , β⁺ , ⁴⁷Cr , rowspan=2, 5/2−# , rowspan=2, , - , β⁺, p? (<1.7%) , ⁴⁶V , -id=Manganese-48 , rowspan=3, ⁴⁸Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 23 , rowspan=3, 47.9685488(72) , rowspan=3, 158.1(22) ms , β⁺ (99.72%) , ⁴⁸Cr , rowspan=3, 4+ , rowspan=3, , - , β⁺, p (0.28%) , ⁴⁷V , - , β⁺, α (6×10⁻⁴%) , ⁴⁴Ti , -id=Manganese-49 , ⁴⁹Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 24 , 48.9596134(24) , 382(7) ms , β⁺ , ⁴⁹Cr , 5/2− , , -id=Manganese-50 , ⁵⁰Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 25 , 49.95423816(12) , 283.21(7) ms , β⁺ , ⁵⁰Cr , 0+ , , -id=Manganese-50m , style="text-indent:1em" , ^50mMn , colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 225.31(7) keV , 1.75(3) min , β⁺ , ⁵⁰Cr , 5+ , , -id=Manganese-51 , ⁵¹Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 26 , 50.94820877(33) , 45.81(21) min , β⁺ , ⁵¹Cr , 5/2− , , -id=Manganese-52 , ⁵²Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 27 , 51.94555909(14) , 5.591(3) d , β⁺ , ⁵²Cr , 6+ , , -id=Manganese-52m , rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" , ^52mMn , rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 377.749(5) keV , rowspan=2, 21.1(2) min , β⁺ (98.22%) , ⁵²Cr , rowspan=2, 2+ , rowspan=2, , - , IT (1.78%) , ⁵²Mn , -id=Manganese-53 , ⁵³Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 28 , 52.94128750(37) , 3.7(4)×10⁶ y , EC , ⁵³Cr , 7/2− ,

trace Trace may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * ''Trace'' (Son Volt album), 1995 * ''Trace'' (Died Pretty album), 1993 * Trace (band), a Dutch progressive rock band * ''The Trace'' (album), by Nell Other uses in arts and entertainment * ...

, -id=Manganese-54 , rowspan=3, ⁵⁴Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 29 , rowspan=3, 53.9403558(11) , rowspan=3, 312.081(32) d , EC , ⁵⁴Cr , rowspan=3, 3+ , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻ (9.3×10⁻⁵%) , ⁵⁴Fe , - , β⁺ (1.28×10⁻⁷%) , ⁵⁴Cr , -id=Manganese-55 , ⁵⁵Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 30 , 54.93804304(28) , colspan=3 align=center, Stable , 5/2− , 1.0000 , -id=Manganese-56 , ⁵⁶Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 31 , 55.93890282(31) , 2.5789(1) h , β⁻ , ⁵⁶Fe , 3+ , , -id=Manganese-57 , ⁵⁷Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 32 , 56.9382859(16) , 85.4(18) s , β⁻ , ⁵⁷Fe , 5/2− , , -id=Manganese-58 , ⁵⁸Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 33 , 57.9400666(29) , 3.0(1) s , β⁻ , ⁵⁸Fe , 1+ , , -id=Manganese-58m , rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" , ^58mMn , rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 71.77(5) keV , rowspan=2, 65.4(5) s , β⁻ , ⁵⁸Fe , rowspan=2, 4+ , rowspan=2, , - , IT? , ⁵⁸Mn , -id=Manganese-59 , ⁵⁹Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 34 , 58.9403911(25) , 4.59(5) s , β⁻ , ⁵⁹Fe , 5/2− , , -id=Manganese-60 , ⁶⁰Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 35 , 59.9431366(25) , 280(20) ms , β⁻ , ⁶⁰Fe , 1+ , , -id=Manganese-60m , rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" , ^60mMn , rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 271.90(10) keV , rowspan=2, 1.77(2) s , β⁻ (88.5%) , ⁶⁰Fe , rowspan=2, 4+ , rowspan=2, , - , IT (11.5%) , ⁶⁰Mn , -id=Manganese-61 , rowspan=2, ⁶¹Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 36 , rowspan=2, 60.9444525(25) , rowspan=2, 709(8) ms , β⁻ , ⁶¹Fe , rowspan=2, 5/2− , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁶⁰Fe , -id=Manganese-62 , rowspan=2, ⁶²Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 37 , rowspan=2, 61.9479074(70) , rowspan=2, 92(13) ms , β⁻ , ⁶²Fe , rowspan=2, 1+ , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁶¹Fe , -id=Manganese-62m , rowspan=3 style="text-indent:1em" , ^62mMnOrder of ground state and isomer is uncertain. , rowspan=3 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 343(6) keV , rowspan=3, 671(5) ms , β⁻ , ⁶²Fe , rowspan=3, 4+ , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁶¹Fe , - , IT? , ⁶²Mn , -id=Manganese-63 , rowspan=2, ⁶³Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 38 , rowspan=2, 62.9496647(40) , rowspan=2, 275(4) ms , β⁻ , ⁶³Fe , rowspan=2, 5/2− , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁶²Fe , -id=Manganese-64 , rowspan=2, ⁶⁴Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 39 , rowspan=2, 63.9538494(38) , rowspan=2, 88.8(24) ms , β⁻ (97.3%) , ⁶⁴Fe , rowspan=2, 1+ , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻, n (2.7%) , ⁶³Fe , -id=Manganese-64m , style="text-indent:1em" , ^64mMn , colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 174.1(5) keV , 439(31) μs , IT , ⁶⁴Mn , (4+) , , -id=Manganese-65 , rowspan=2, ⁶⁵Mn , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=2 style="text-align:right" , 40 , rowspan=2, 64.9560197(40) , rowspan=2, 91.9(7) ms , β⁻ (92.1%) , ⁶⁵Fe , rowspan=2, (5/2−) , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻, n (7.9%) , ⁶⁴Fe , -id=Manganese-66 , rowspan=3, ⁶⁶Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 41 , rowspan=3, 65.960547(12) , rowspan=3, 63.8(9) ms , β⁻ (92.6%) , ⁶⁶Fe , rowspan=3, (1+) , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n (7.4%) , ⁶⁵Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁴Fe , -id=Manganese-66m , rowspan=2 style="text-indent:1em" , ^66mMn , rowspan=2 colspan="3" style="text-indent:2em" , 464.5(4) keV , rowspan=2, 780(40) μs , IT , ⁶⁶Mn , rowspan=2, (5−) , rowspan=2, , - , β⁻? , ⁶⁶Fe , -id=Manganese-67 , rowspan=3, ⁶⁷Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 42 , rowspan=3, 66.96395(22)# , rowspan=3, 46.7(23) ms , β⁻ (90%) , ⁶⁷Fe , rowspan=3, 5/2−# , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n (10%) , ⁶⁶Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁵Fe , -id=Manganese-68 , rowspan=3, ⁶⁸Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 43 , rowspan=3, 67.96895(32)# , rowspan=3, 33.7(15) ms , β⁻ (82%) , ⁶⁸Fe , rowspan=3, (3) , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n (18%) , ⁶⁷Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁶Fe , -id=Manganese-69 , rowspan=3, ⁶⁹Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 44 , rowspan=3, 68.97278(43)# , rowspan=3, 22.1(16) ms , β⁻ (60%) , ⁶⁹Fe , rowspan=3, 5/2−# , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n (40%) , ⁶⁸Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁷Fe , -id=Manganese-70 , rowspan=3, ⁷⁰Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 45 , rowspan=3, 69.97805(54)# , rowspan=3, 19.9(17) ms , β⁻ , ⁷⁰Fe , rowspan=3, (4,5) , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁶⁹Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁸Fe , -id=Manganese-71 , rowspan=3, ⁷¹Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 46 , rowspan=3, 70.98216(54)# , rowspan=3, 16# ms
400 ns, β⁻? , ⁷¹Fe , rowspan=3, 5/2-# , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁷⁰Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁶⁹Fe , -id=Manganese-72 , rowspan=3, ⁷²Mn , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 25 , rowspan=3 style="text-align:right" , 47 , rowspan=3, 71.98801(64)# , rowspan=3, 12# ms
620 ns, β⁻? , ⁷²Fe , rowspan=3, , rowspan=3, , - , β⁻, n? , ⁷¹Fe , - , β⁻, 2n? , ⁷⁰Fe , -id=Manganese-73 , ⁷³Mn , style="text-align:right" , 25 , style="text-align:right" , 48 , 72.99281(64)# , 12# ms
410 ns, β⁻? , ⁷³Fe , 5/2−# ,

References

* Isotope masses from: ** * Half-life, spin, and isomer data selected from the following sources. ** ** ** {{Navbox element isotopes Manganese

Manganese Manganese is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese was first isolated in the 1770s. It is a transition m ...

List of isotopes

See also

References