# Isotopes of promethium

Promethium ($_{61}$Pm) is an artificial element, except in trace quantities as a product of spontaneous fission of $^{238}$U and $^{235}$U and alpha decay of $^{151}$Eu, and thus a standard atomic weight cannot be given. Like all artificial elements, it has no stable isotopes. It was first synthesized in 1945.
Forty-one radioisotopes have been characterized, with the most stable being $^{145}$Pm with a half-life of 17.7 years, $^{146}$Pm with a half-life of 5.53 years, and $^{147}$Pm with a half-life of 2.6234 years. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are less than 365 days, and the majority of these have half-lives that are less than 30 seconds. This element also has 18 meta states with the most stable being $^{148m}$Pm (t$_{1/2}$ 41.29 days), $^{152m2}$Pm (t$_{1/2}$ 13.8 minutes) and $^{152m}$Pm (t$_{1/2}$ 7.52 minutes).
The isotopes of promethium range in mass number from 126 to 166. The primary decay mode for $^{146}$Pm and lighter isotopes is electron capture, and the primary mode for heavier isotopes is beta decay. The primary decay products before $^{146}$Pm are isotopes of neodymium, and the primary products after are isotopes of samarium.

## List of isotopes

| Nuclide | Z | N | Isotopic mass (Da) | Half-life | Decay mode | Daughter isotope | Spin and parity | Isotopic abundance |
| Isotopic abundance |||
| $^{128}$Pm | 61 | 67 | 127.94823(32)# | 1.0(3) s | β$^+$ (?%) | $^{128}$Nd | 4+# | |
| $^{128}$Pm | 61 | 67 | 127.94823(32)# | 1.0(3) s | β$^+$, p (?%) | $^{127}$Pr | 4+# | |
| $^{129}$Pm | 61 | 68 | 128.94291(32)# | 2.4(9) s | β$^+$ | $^{129}$Nd | 5/2+# | |
| $^{130}$Pm | 61 | 69 | 129.94045(22)# | 2.6(2) s | β$^+$ (?%) | $^{130}$Nd | (5+, 6+, 4+) | |
| $^{130}$Pm | 61 | 69 | 129.94045(22)# | 2.6(2) s | β$^+$, p (?%) | $^{129}$Pr | (5+, 6+, 4+) | |
| $^{131}$Pm | 61 | 70 | 130.93583(22)# | 6.3(8) s | β$^+$ | $^{131}$Nd | (11/2−) | |
| $^{132}$Pm | 61 | 71 | 131.93384(16)# | 6.2(6) s | β$^+$ | $^{132}$Nd | (3+) | |
| $^{132}$Pm | 61 | 71 | 131.93384(16)# | 6.2(6) s | β$^+$, p (5×10$^{−5}$%) | $^{131}$Pr | (3+) | |
| $^{133}$Pm | 61 | 72 | 132.929782(54) | 13.5(21) s | β$^+$ | $^{133}$Nd | (3/2+) | |
| $^{133m}$Pm | 129.7(7) keV | 129.7(7) keV | 129.7(7) keV | 8# s | | | (11/2−) | |
| $^{134}$Pm | 61 | 73 | 133.928326(45) | 22(1) s | β$^+$ | $^{134}$Nd | (5+) | |
| $^{134m1}$Pm | 50(50)# keV | 50(50)# keV | 50(50)# keV | ~5 s | β$^+$ | $^{134}$Nd | (2+) | |
| $^{134m2}$Pm | 120(50)# keV | 120(50)# keV | 120(50)# keV | 20(1) μs | IT | $^{134}$Pm | (7−) | |
| $^{135}$Pm | 61 | 74 | 134.924785(89) | 49(3) s | β$^+$ | $^{135}$Nd | (3/2+, 5/2+) | |
| $^{135m}$Pm | 240(100)# keV | 240(100)# keV | 240(100)# keV | 40(3) s | β$^+$ | $^{135}$Nd | (11/2−) | |
| $^{136}$Pm | 61 | 75 | 135.923596(74) | 107(6) s | β$^+$ | $^{136}$Nd | 7+# | |
| $^{136m1}$Pm | 100(120) keV | 100(120) keV | 100(120) keV | 90(35) s | β$^+$ | $^{136}$Nd | 2+# | |
| $^{136m2}$Pm | 42.7(2) keV | 42.7(2) keV | 42.7(2) keV | 1.5(1) μs | IT | $^{136}$Pm | 7−# | |
| $^{137}$Pm | 61 | 76 | 136.920480(14) | 2# min | | | 5/2−# | |
| $^{137m}$Pm | 160(50) keV | 160(50) keV | 160(50) keV | 2.4(1) min | β$^+$ | $^{137}$Nd | 11/2− | |
| $^{138}$Pm | 61 | 77 | 137.919576(12) | 3.24(5) min | β$^+$ | $^{138}$Nd | 3−# | |
| $^{139}$Pm | 61 | 78 | 138.916799(15) | 4.15(5) min | β$^+$ | $^{139}$Nd | (5/2)+ | |
| $^{139m}$Pm | 188.7(3) keV | 188.7(3) keV | 188.7(3) keV | 180(20) ms | IT | $^{139}$Pm | (11/2)− | |
| $^{140}$Pm | 61 | 79 | 139.916036(26) | 9.2(2) s | β$^+$ | $^{140}$Nd | 1+ | |
| $^{140m}$Pm | 429(28) keV | 429(28) keV | 429(28) keV | 5.95(5) min | β$^+$ | $^{140}$Nd | 8− | |
| $^{141}$Pm | 61 | 80 | 140.913555(15) | 20.90(5) min | β$^+$ | $^{141}$Nd | 5/2+ | |
| $^{141m1}$Pm | 628.62(7) keV | 628.62(7) keV | 628.62(7) keV | 630(20) ns | IT | $^{141}$Pm | 11/2− | |
| $^{141m2}$Pm | 2530.75(17) keV | 2530.75(17) keV | 2530.75(17) keV | >2 μs | IT | $^{141}$Pm | (23/2+) | |
| $^{142}$Pm | 61 | 81 | 141.912891(25) | 40.5(5) s | β$^+$ (77.1%) | $^{142}$Nd | 1+ | |
| $^{142}$Pm | 61 | 81 | 141.912891(25) | 40.5(5) s | EC (22.9%) | $^{142}$Nd | 1+ | |
| $^{142m1}$Pm | 883.17(16) keV | 883.17(16) keV | 883.17(16) keV | 2.0(2) ms | IT | $^{142}$Pm | (8)− | |
| $^{142m2}$Pm | 2828.7(6) keV | 2828.7(6) keV | 2828.7(6) keV | 67(5) μs | IT | $^{142}$Pm | (13−) | |
| $^{143}$Pm | 61 | 82 | 142.9109381(32) | 265(7) d | EC | $^{143}$Nd | 5/2+ | |
| $^{143}$Pm | 61 | 82 | 142.9109381(32) | 265(7) d | β$^+$ (<5.7×10$^{−6}$%) | $^{143}$Nd | 5/2+ | |
| $^{144}$Pm | 61 | 83 | 143.9125962(31) | 363(14) d | EC | $^{144}$Nd | 5− | |
| $^{144}$Pm | 61 | 83 | 143.9125962(31) | 363(14) d | β$^+$ (<8×10$^{−5}$%) | $^{144}$Nd | 5− | |
| $^{144m1}$Pm | 840.90(5) keV | 840.90(5) keV | 840.90(5) keV | 780(200) ns | IT | $^{144}$Pm | (9)+ | |
| $^{144m2}$Pm | 8595.8(22) keV | 8595.8(22) keV | 8595.8(22) keV | ~2.7 μs | IT | $^{144}$Pm | (27+) | |
| $^{145}$Pm | 61 | 84 | 144.9127557(30) | 17.7(4) y | EC | $^{145}$Nd | 5/2+ | |
| $^{145}$Pm | 61 | 84 | 144.9127557(30) | 17.7(4) y | α (2.8×10$^{−7}$%) | $^{141}$Pr | 5/2+ | |
| $^{146}$Pm | 61 | 85 | 145.9147022(46) | 5.53(5) y | EC (66.0%) | $^{146}$Nd | 3− | |
| $^{146}$Pm | 61 | 85 | 145.9147022(46) | 5.53(5) y | β$^−$ (34.0%) | $^{146}$Sm | 3− | |
| $^{147}$Pm | 61 | 86 | 146.9151449(14) | 2.6234(2) y | β$^−$ | $^{147}$Sm | 7/2+ | Trace |
| $^{148}$Pm | 61 | 87 | 147.9174811(61) | 5.368(7) d | β$^−$ | $^{148}$Sm | 1− | |
| $^{148m}$Pm | 137.9(3) keV | 137.9(3) keV | 137.9(3) keV | 41.29(11) d | β$^−$ (95.8%) | $^{148}$Sm | 5−, 6− | |
| $^{148m}$Pm | 137.9(3) keV | 137.9(3) keV | 137.9(3) keV | 41.29(11) d | IT (4.2%) | $^{148}$Pm | 5−, 6− | |
| $^{149}$Pm | 61 | 88 | 148.9183415(23) | 53.08(5) h | β$^−$ | $^{149}$Sm | 7/2+ | |
| $^{149m}$Pm | 240.214(7) keV | 240.214(7) keV | 240.214(7) keV | 35(3) μs | IT | $^{149}$Pm | 11/2− | |
| $^{150}$Pm | 61 | 89 | 149.920990(22) | 2.698(15) h | β$^−$ | $^{150}$Sm | (1−) | |
| $^{151}$Pm | 61 | 90 | 150.9212166(49) | 28.40(4) h | β$^−$ | $^{151}$Sm | 5/2+ | |
| $^{152}$Pm | 61 | 91 | 151.923505(28) | 4.12(8) min | β$^−$ | $^{152}$Sm | 1+ | |
| $^{152m}$Pm | 140(90) keV | 140(90) keV | 140(90) keV | 7.52(8) min | β$^−$ | $^{152}$Sm | 4(−) | |
| $^{153}$Pm | 61 | 92 | 152.9241563(97) | 5.25(2) min | β$^−$ | $^{153}$Sm | 5/2− | |
| $^{154}$Pm | 61 | 93 | 153.926713(27) | 2.68(7) min | β$^−$ | $^{154}$Sm | (4+) | |
| $^{154m}$Pm | −230(50) keV | −230(50) keV | −230(50) keV | 1.73(10) min | β$^−$ | $^{154}$Sm | (1−) | |
| $^{155}$Pm | 61 | 94 | 154.9281370(51) | 41.5(2) s | β$^−$ | $^{155}$Sm | (5/2−) | |
| $^{156}$Pm | 61 | 95 | 155.9311141(13) | 27.4(5) s | β$^−$ | $^{156}$Sm | 4+ | |
| $^{156m}$Pm | 150.30(10) keV | 150.30(10) keV | 150.30(10) keV | 2.3(20) s | IT (98%) | $^{156}$Pm | 1+# | |
| $^{156m}$Pm | 150.30(10) keV | 150.30(10) keV | 150.30(10) keV | 2.3(20) s | β$^−$ (2%) | $^{156}$Sm | 1+# | |
| $^{157}$Pm | 61 | 96 | 156.9331213(75) | 10.56(10) s | β$^−$ | $^{157}$Sm | (5/2−) | |
| $^{158}$Pm | 61 | 97 | 157.93654695(95) | 4.8(5) s | β$^−$ | $^{158}$Sm | (0+,1+)# | |
| $^{158m}$Pm | 150(50)# keV | 150(50)# keV | 150(50)# keV | >16 μs | IT | $^{158}$Pm | 5+# | |
| $^{159}$Pm | 61 | 98 | 158.939286(11) | 1.648+0.43 −0.42 s | β$^−$ | $^{159}$Sm | (5/2−) | |
| $^{159m}$Pm | 1465.0(5) keV | 1465.0(5) keV | 1465.0(5) keV | 4.42(17) μs | IT | $^{159}$Pm | 17/2+# | |
| $^{159m}$Pm | 1465.0(5) keV | 1465.0(5) keV | 1465.0(5) keV | 4.42(17) μs | β$^−$, n (<0.6%) | $^{158}$Sm | 17/2+# | |
| $^{160}$Pm | 61 | 99 | 159.9432153(22) | 874+16 −12 ms | β$^−$ | $^{160}$Sm | 6−# | |
| $^{160}$Pm | 61 | 99 | 159.9432153(22) | 874+16 −12 ms | β$^−$, n (<0.1%) | $^{159}$Sm | 6−# | |
| $^{160m}$Pm | 191(11) keV | 191(11) keV | 191(11) keV | >700 ms | | | 1−# | |
| $^{161}$Pm | 61 | 100 | 160.9462298(97) | 724+20 −12 ms | β$^−$ (98.91%) | $^{161}$Sm | (5/2−) | |
| $^{161}$Pm | 61 | 100 | 160.9462298(97) | 724+20 −12 ms | β$^−$, n (1.09%) | $^{160}$Sm | (5/2−) | |
| $^{161m}$Pm | 965.9(9) keV | 965.9(9) keV | 965.9(9) keV | 890(90) ns | IT | $^{161}$Pm | (13/2+) | |
| $^{162}$Pm | 61 | 101 | 161.95057(32)# | 467+38 −18 ms | β$^−$ (98.21%) | $^{162}$Sm | 2+# | |
| $^{162}$Pm | 61 | 101 | 161.95057(32)# | 467+38 −18 ms | β$^−$, n (1.79%) | $^{161}$Sm | 2+# | |
| $^{163}$Pm | 61 | 102 | 162.95388(43)# | 362+42 −30 ms | β$^−$ (95%) | $^{163}$Sm | 5/2−# | |
| $^{163}$Pm | 61 | 102 | 162.95388(43)# | 362+42 −30 ms | β$^−$, n (5.00%) | $^{162}$Sm | 5/2−# | |
| $^{164}$Pm | 61 | 103 | 163.95882(43)# | 280+38 −33 ms | β$^−$ (93.82%) | $^{164}$Sm | 5−# | |
| $^{164}$Pm | 61 | 103 | 163.95882(43)# | 280+38 −33 ms | β$^−$, n (6.18%) | $^{163}$Sm | 5−# | |
| $^{165}$Pm | 61 | 104 | 164.96278(54)# | 297+111 −101 ms | β$^−$ (86.74%) | $^{165}$Sm | 5/2−# | |
| $^{165}$Pm | 61 | 104 | 164.96278(54)# | 297+111 −101 ms | β$^−$, n (13.26%) | $^{164}$Sm | 5/2−# | |
| $^{166}$Pm | 61 | 105 | | 228+131 −112 ms | β$^−$ | $^{166}$Sm | | |
| $^{166}$Pm | 61 | 105 | | 228+131 −112 ms | β$^−$, n (<52%) | $^{165}$Sm | | |
| This table header & footer: view |||||||||
* ↑ $^m$Pm – 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 3 # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
* ↑ Modes of decay: EC:Electron capture IT:Isomeric transition p:Proton emission
* ↑ Bold italics symbol as daughter – Daughter product is nearly stable.
* ↑ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
* ↑ ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
* 1 2 3 4 Order of ground state and isomer is uncertain.
* 1 2 3 Fission product
* ↑ Spontaneous fission product of $^{232}$Th, $^{235}$U, $^{238}$U and alpha decay daughter of primordial $^{151}$Eu

## Stability of promethium isotopes

Promethium is one of the two elements of the first 82 elements that has no stable isotopes. This is a rarely occurring effect of the liquid drop model. Namely, promethium does not have any beta-stable isotopes, as for any mass number, it is energetically favorable for a promethium isotope to undergo positron emission or beta decay, respectively forming a neodymium or samarium isotope which has a higher binding energy per nucleon. The other element for which this happens is technetium (Z = 43).

## Promethium-147

Promethium-147 has a half-life of 2.62 years, and is a fission product produced in nuclear reactors via beta decay from neodymium-147. The isotopes $^{142}$Nd, $^{143}$Nd, $^{144}$Nd, $^{145}$Nd, $^{146}$Nd, $^{148}$Nd, and $^{150}$Nd are all stable with respect to beta decay, so the isotopes of promethium with those masses cannot be produced by beta decay and therefore are not fission products in significant quantities (they could only be produced directly, rather than along a beta-decay chain). $^{149}$Pm and $^{151}$Pm have half-lives of only 53.08 and 28.40 hours, so are not found in spent nuclear fuel that has been cooled for months or years. It is found naturally mostly from the spontaneous fission of uranium-238 and less often from the alpha decay of europium-151.
Promethium-147 is used as a beta particle source and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) fuel; its power density is about 2 watts per gram. Mixed with a phosphor, it was used to illuminate Apollo Lunar Module electrical switch tips and painted on control panels of the Lunar Roving Vehicle.