Trace Sciences International

Zinc Isotopes

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

64 Zn

63.9291448 (19)
48.6 (60)

metal, oxide

75 – 99+

66 Zn

65.9260347 (17)
27.90 (27)

metal, oxide

62 – 99

67 Zn

66.9271291 (17)

4.1 (13)

metal, oxide

78 – 97

68 Zn

67.9248459 (18)
18.8 (51)

metal, oxide

37 – 99+

70 Zn

69.925325 (4)
0.6 (3)

metal, oxide

71 – 95+

Zinc Isotopes are used extensively in both industrial and medical applications. Depleted Zn-64 is added to the cooling water of nuclear reactors in the form of oxide or acetate to prevent stress corrosion cracking. It also reduces the release of (stable) Co-59 into the cooling water by forming a thin spinel layer on the Co containing steel surfaces. Neutron irradiation of Co-59 will result in the formation of Co-60, a radioisotope which emits high energy gamma radiation and is a major contributor to the dose rate of personnel working in the reactor. Enriched Zn-67 is often used in biological research into the uptake of Zn in the human body. It can also be used for the production of radioactive Ga-67 in smaller cyclotrons. However, by far most Ga-67 is made from Zn-68. Zn-67, Zn-68 and Zn-70 can all be used for the production of the therapeutic isotope Cu-67. Zn-66 has been proposed as an alternative target for the production of Cu-64 and Ga-67. Finally Zn-70 is also used in biological research and in research into super-heavy elements.