Samarium-153
Isotopes
WHat are isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms that contain the same number of protons. Since an element is characterized by its number of protons, all isotopes of each other are the same element. However, they may have different mass numbers, energies, and numbers of electrons and neutrons. Furthermore, not all isotopes of a radioactive nuclide are radioisotopes. Even when the isotope is also radioactive, not all radioisotopes have the same decay mode. There is also no correlation between the mass number of an isotope and it's half-life.
isotopes of samarium-153
Samarium has 43 isotopes, of which only seven are stable. The majority of Samarium isotopes are not found in nature and are synthesized, or man-made.
Samarium has many uses, including:
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in samarium-cobalt magnets, which enabled the miniaturization of electronic devices such as cell phones and headphones
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to dope calcium chloride crystals for use in optical lasers
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a component of infrared absorbing glass
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as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors
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samarium oxide is used in glass and ceramics
(Above) Natural isotopes of 153-Sm; their half-lives and decay modes. (Below, Left to Right) Infrared absorbing glass, optical lasers, and samarium-cobalt magnet.
List of all known isotopes of samarium-153
