Trace Sciences International

Iron Isotopes

Nominal Mass
Accurate Mass
% Natural Abundance
Chemical Form
Enrichment Available %

54 Fe

53.9396127 (15)
5.845 (35)

metal, oxide

26 – 99+

56 Fe

55.9349393 (16)
91.754 (36)

metal, oxide

97 – 99+

57 Fe

56.9353958 (16)
2.119 (10)

metal, oxide

81 – 96+

58 Fe

57.9332773 (16)
0.282 (4)

metal, oxide

93+

Iron Isotopes are mainly used in nutritional studies, with Fe-57 and Fe-58 being the two most commonly used Fe isotopes. Studies have included iron-loss by human adolescents, conditions for effective iron absorption, interventions for anemia and genetic iron control. The Fe-54 isotope is used for the production of radioactive Fe-55 which in turn is used as an electron capture detector and in X-ray fluorescence. Fe-56 can be used for the production of radioactive Co-55 which is used as a tumor seeking agent in bleomycin.