The correct answer is option (1) 13.
Scandium (Sc) has a total of 13 known isotopes. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus. This variation in the number of neutrons results in isotopes having different atomic masses.
The 13 isotopes of scandium are denoted by their mass numbers, which represent the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. These isotopes range from Sc-39 to Sc-51. Among them, Sc-45 is the most stable and abundant isotope of scandium, with a natural abundance of approximately 100%.
Here are the isotopes of scandium along with their natural abundances:
- Sc-45 (Natural abundance: ~100%)
- Sc-46 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-47 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-48 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-49 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-50 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-51 (Natural abundance: Trace)
- Sc-52 (Artificially produced)
- Sc-53 (Artificially produced)
- Sc-54 (Artificially produced)
- Sc-55 (Artificially produced)
- Sc-56 (Artificially produced)
- Sc-57 (Artificially produced)
The isotopes with trace abundances are generally formed through various nuclear reactions, while the artificially produced isotopes are typically created in laboratories through nuclear reactions involving target materials containing stable isotopes of scandium. |
