# Isotopes of scandium

Naturally occurring scandium ($_{21}$Sc) is composed of one stable isotope, $^{45}$Sc. Twenty-seven radioisotopes have been characterized, with the most stable being $^{46}$Sc with a half-life of 83.8 days, $^{47}$Sc with a half-life of 3.35 days, and $^{48}$Sc with a half-life of 43.7 hours and $^{44}$Sc with a half-life of 3.97 hours. All the remaining isotopes have half-lives that are less than four hours, and the majority of these have half-lives that are less than two minutes, the least stable being proton unbound $^{39}$Sc with a half-life shorter than 300 nanoseconds. This element also has 13 meta states with the most stable being $^{44m2}$Sc (t$_{1/2}$ 58.6 h).
The isotopes of scandium range from $^{37}$Sc to $^{62}$Sc. The primary decay mode at masses lower than the only stable isotope, $^{45}$Sc, is beta-plus or electron capture, and the primary mode at masses above it is beta-minus. The primary decay products at atomic weights below $^{45}$Sc are calcium isotopes and the primary products from higher atomic weights are titanium isotopes.

## List of isotopes

| Nuclide | Z | N | Isotopic mass (Da) | Half-life | Decay mode | Daughter isotope | Spin and parity | Isotopic abundance |
| Isotopic abundance |||
| $^{37}$Sc | 21 | 16 | 37.00376(44) | | p | $^{36}$Ca | | |
| $^{38}$Sc | 21 | 17 | 37.995002(15) | | p | $^{37}$Ca | | |
| $^{39}$Sc | 21 | 18 | 38.984785(26) | | p | $^{38}$Ca | 7/2−# | |
| $^{40}$Sc | 21 | 19 | 39.9779673(30) | 182.3(7) ms | β$^+$ (99.54%) | $^{40}$Ca | 4− | |
| $^{40}$Sc | 21 | 19 | 39.9779673(30) | 182.3(7) ms | β$^+$, p (0.44%) | $^{39}$K | 4− | |
| $^{40}$Sc | 21 | 19 | 39.9779673(30) | 182.3(7) ms | β$^+$, α (0.017%) | $^{36}$Ar | 4− | |
| $^{41}$Sc | 21 | 20 | 40.969251163(83) | 596.3(17) ms | β$^+$ | $^{41}$Ca | 7/2− | |
| $^{42}$Sc | 21 | 21 | 41.96551669(17) | 680.72(26) ms | β$^+$ | $^{42}$Ca | 0+ | |
| $^{42m}$Sc | 616.81(6) keV | 616.81(6) keV | 616.81(6) keV | 61.7(4) s | β$^+$ | $^{42}$Ca | 7+ | |
| $^{43}$Sc | 21 | 22 | 42.9611504(20) | 3.891(12) h | β$^+$ | $^{43}$Ca | 7/2− | |
| $^{43m1}$Sc | 151.79(8) keV | 151.79(8) keV | 151.79(8) keV | 438(5) μs | IT | $^{43}$Sc | 3/2+ | |
| $^{43m2}$Sc | 3123.73(15) keV | 3123.73(15) keV | 3123.73(15) keV | 472(3) ns | IT | $^{43}$Sc | 19/2− | |
| $^{44}$Sc | 21 | 23 | 43.9594028(19) | 4.0421(25) h | β$^+$ | $^{44}$Ca | 2+ | |
| $^{44m1}$Sc | 67.8679(14) keV | 67.8679(14) keV | 67.8679(14) keV | 154.8(8) ns | IT | $^{44}$Sc | 1− | |
| $^{44m2}$Sc | 146.1914(20) keV | 146.1914(20) keV | 146.1914(20) keV | 51.0(3) μs | IT | $^{44}$Sc | 0− | |
| $^{44m3}$Sc | 271.240(10) keV | 271.240(10) keV | 271.240(10) keV | 58.61(10) h | IT (98.80%) | $^{44}$Sc | 6+ | |
| $^{44m3}$Sc | 271.240(10) keV | 271.240(10) keV | 271.240(10) keV | 58.61(10) h | β$^+$ (1.20%) | $^{44}$Ca | 6+ | |
| $^{45}$Sc | 21 | 24 | 44.95590705(71) | Stable | Stable | Stable | 7/2− | 1.0000 |
| $^{45m}$Sc | 12.40(5) keV | 12.40(5) keV | 12.40(5) keV | 318(7) ms | IT | $^{45}$Sc | 3/2+ | |
| $^{46}$Sc | 21 | 25 | 45.95516703(72) | 83.757(14) d | β$^−$ | $^{46}$Ti | 4+ | |
| $^{46m1}$Sc | 52.011(1) keV | 52.011(1) keV | 52.011(1) keV | 9.4(8) μs | IT | $^{46}$Sc | 6+ | |
| $^{46m2}$Sc | 142.528(7) keV | 142.528(7) keV | 142.528(7) keV | 18.75(4) s | IT | $^{46}$Sc | 1− | |
| $^{47}$Sc | 21 | 26 | 46.9524024(21) | 3.3492(6) d | β$^−$ | $^{47}$Ti | 7/2− | |
| $^{47m}$Sc | 766.83(9) keV | 766.83(9) keV | 766.83(9) keV | 272(8) ns | IT | $^{47}$Sc | (3/2)+ | |
| $^{48}$Sc | 21 | 27 | 47.9522229(53) | 43.67(9) h | β$^−$ | $^{48}$Ti | 6+ | |
| $^{49}$Sc | 21 | 28 | 48.9500132(24) | 57.18(13) min | β$^−$ | $^{49}$Ti | 7/2− | |
| $^{50}$Sc | 21 | 29 | 49.9521874(27) | 102.5(5) s | β$^−$ | $^{50}$Ti | 5+ | |
| $^{50m}$Sc | 256.895(10) keV | 256.895(10) keV | 256.895(10) keV | 350(40) ms | IT (>99%) | $^{50}$Sc | 2+ | |
| $^{50m}$Sc | 256.895(10) keV | 256.895(10) keV | 256.895(10) keV | 350(40) ms | β$^−$ (<1%) | $^{50}$Ti | 2+ | |
| $^{51}$Sc | 21 | 30 | 50.9535688(27) | 12.4(1) s | β$^−$ | $^{51}$Ti | (7/2)− | |
| $^{51}$Sc | 21 | 30 | 50.9535688(27) | 12.4(1) s | β$^−$, n? | $^{50}$Ti | (7/2)− | |
| $^{52}$Sc | 21 | 31 | 51.9564962(33) | 8.2(2) s | β$^−$ | $^{52}$Ti | 3(+) | |
| $^{52}$Sc | 21 | 31 | 51.9564962(33) | 8.2(2) s | β$^−$, n? | $^{51}$Ti | 3(+) | |
| $^{53}$Sc | 21 | 32 | 52.958379(19) | 2.4(6) s | β$^−$ | $^{53}$Ti | (7/2−) | |
| $^{53}$Sc | 21 | 32 | 52.958379(19) | 2.4(6) s | β$^−$, n? | $^{52}$Ti | (7/2−) | |
| $^{54}$Sc | 21 | 33 | 53.963029(15) | 526(15) ms | β$^−$ (84%) | $^{54}$Ti | (3)+ | |
| $^{54}$Sc | 21 | 33 | 53.963029(15) | 526(15) ms | β$^−$, n (16%) | $^{53}$Ti | (3)+ | |
| $^{54m}$Sc | 110.5(3) keV | 110.5(3) keV | 110.5(3) keV | 2.77(2) μs | IT | $^{54}$Sc | (5+,4+) | |
| $^{55}$Sc | 21 | 34 | 54.966890(67) | 96(2) ms | β$^−$ (83%) | $^{55}$Ti | (7/2)− | |
| $^{55}$Sc | 21 | 34 | 54.966890(67) | 96(2) ms | β$^−$, n (17%) | $^{54}$Ti | (7/2)− | |
| $^{55}$Sc | 21 | 34 | 54.966890(67) | 96(2) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{53}$Ti | (7/2)− | |
| $^{56}$Sc | 21 | 35 | 55.97261(28) | 26(6) ms | β$^−$ | $^{56}$Ti | (1+) | |
| $^{56}$Sc | 21 | 35 | 55.97261(28) | 26(6) ms | β$^−$, n? | $^{55}$Ti | (1+) | |
| $^{56}$Sc | 21 | 35 | 55.97261(28) | 26(6) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{54}$Ti | (1+) | |
| $^{56m1}$Sc | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 75(6) ms | β$^−$ (<88%) | $^{56}$Ti | (6+,5+) | |
| $^{56m1}$Sc | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 75(6) ms | β$^−$, n (>12%) | $^{55}$Ti | (6+,5+) | |
| $^{56m1}$Sc | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 0(100)# keV | 75(6) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{54}$Ti | (6+,5+) | |
| $^{56m2}$Sc | 775.0(1) keV | 775.0(1) keV | 775.0(1) keV | 290(17) ns | IT | $^{56}$Sc | (4+) | |
| $^{57}$Sc | 21 | 36 | 56.97705(19) | 22(2) ms | β$^−$ | $^{57}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{57}$Sc | 21 | 36 | 56.97705(19) | 22(2) ms | β$^−$, n? | $^{56}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{57}$Sc | 21 | 36 | 56.97705(19) | 22(2) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{55}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{58}$Sc | 21 | 37 | 57.98338(20) | 12(5) ms | β$^−$ | $^{58}$Ti | 3+# | |
| $^{58}$Sc | 21 | 37 | 57.98338(20) | 12(5) ms | β$^−$, n? | $^{57}$Ti | 3+# | |
| $^{58}$Sc | 21 | 37 | 57.98338(20) | 12(5) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{56}$Ti | 3+# | |
| $^{58m}$Sc | 1420.7(22) keV | 1420.7(22) keV | 1420.7(22) keV | 0.60(13) μs | IT | $^{58}$Sc | | |
| $^{59}$Sc | 21 | 38 | 58.98837(27) | 12# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$? | $^{59}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{59}$Sc | 21 | 38 | 58.98837(27) | 12# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{58}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{59}$Sc | 21 | 38 | 58.98837(27) | 12# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{57}$Ti | 7/2−# | |
| $^{60}$Sc | 21 | 39 | 59.99512(54)# | 10# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$ | $^{60}$Ti? | 3+# | |
| $^{60}$Sc | 21 | 39 | 59.99512(54)# | 10# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{59}$Ti | 3+# | |
| $^{60}$Sc | 21 | 39 | 59.99512(54)# | 10# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{58}$Ti | 3+# | |
| $^{61}$Sc | 21 | 40 | 61.00054(64)# | 7# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$? | $^{61}$Ti | 7/2-# | |
| $^{61}$Sc | 21 | 40 | 61.00054(64)# | 7# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{60}$Ti | 7/2-# | |
| $^{61}$Sc | 21 | 40 | 61.00054(64)# | 7# ms [>620 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{59}$Ti | 7/2-# | |
| $^{62}$Sc | 21 | 41 | 62.00785(64)# | 2# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$? | $^{62}$Ti | | |
| $^{62}$Sc | 21 | 41 | 62.00785(64)# | 2# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{61}$Ti | | |
| $^{62}$Sc | 21 | 41 | 62.00785(64)# | 2# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{60}$Ti | | |
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* ↑ $^m$Sc – Excited nuclear isomer.
* ↑ ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
* ↑ # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
* 1 2 # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
* ↑ Modes of decay: IT:Isomeric transition n:Neutron emission p:Proton emission
* ↑ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
* ↑ ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
* ↑ Order of ground state and isomer is uncertain.