Trace Sciences International

Tungsten Isotopes

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

180 W

179.946701 (5)

0.12 (1)

metal

95+

182 W

181.948202 (3)

26.50 (16)

oxide, metal

81 – 99+

183 W

182.950220 (3)

14.31 (4)

metal

96+

184 W

183.950928 (3)

30.64 (2)

oxide, metal

85 – 96+

186 W

185.954357 (4)

28.43 (19)

oxide, metal

99+

Tungsten Isotopes are used in several applications. W-180 is used for the production of the therapeutic radioisotope W-181. W-186 is used for the production of W-188 which is used in so-called Tungsten-Rhenium generators. The W-188 daughter Re-188 is “milked” from the generators and used as a therapeutic radioisotope. W-184 has been used to study the elastic and inelastic scattering of heavy ions.