Bismuth isotopes

Table 5. Summary of target states, type and number of reactions, and estimated computer time required to produce the complete set of calculated neutron cross sections for a suite of bismuth isotopes for incident energies up to 20 MeV.

The last member of the quadrupolar Group V nuclei, ° Bi, represents another potentially useful nucleus although, surprisingly, the literature seems to be devoid of any chemical applications of its resonance. ° Bi is the only stable bismuth isotope. It has a spin off, a magnetic moment of 4 039 jUn, and is only six times less sensitive than the proton. Its quadrupolar moment of —0-38 barn definitely confines applications to symmetric moieties. 

C. Radiochemical Syntheses and Uses of Organometallic Compounds of Radioactive Bismuth Isotopes... 

Polonium is found in the earth s crust at exceedingly low levels its natural abundance is only 2 x 10 ° milligrams per kilogram. Polonium is produced in pitchblende when the bismuth isotope °Bi, which has a half-fife of five days, decays into °Po. Approximately 100 micrograms of polonium are found in 1 ton of uranium ore. Polonium can also be produced by bombarding ° Bi with neutrons to form °Bi, which in turn decays into °Po. 

If a nickel foil or nickel powder is stirred In a dilute (0.5 M) solution of HaD(Pb °), RaE(Bl °) and RaF(Po °)-the bismuth and polonlxom will deposit on the nickel leaving the lead-210 In solution (R5). This has been used for separation of bismuth Isotopes from lead cyclotron targets (M18). Gold, mercury, platinum, copper, silver, palladium and antimony also deposit. 

The bismuth Isotopes are retained firmly on the resin, the lead Is removed. After a suitable growth period, lead daughters can now be separated from the bismuth by rapidly passing 0.3 M hydrochloric acid through the column, under pressure and collecting It In a suitable container for counting. 

N1 - H. M. Neumann and I. Perlman, "isotopic Assignments of Bismuth Isotopes Produced With High Energy Particles",... 

---