# Isotopes of phosphorus

Although phosphorus ($_{15}$P) has 22 isotopes from $^{26}$P to $^{47}$P. Only $^{31}$P is stable, thus phosphorus is considered a monoisotopic element. The longest-lived radioactive isotopes are $^{33}$P with a half-life of 25.34 days and $^{32}$P with a half-life of 14.268 days. All others have half-lives of under 2.5 minutes, most under a second. The least stable known isotope is $^{47}$P, with a half-life of 2 milliseconds.

## List of isotopes

| Nuclide | Z | N | Isotopic mass (Da) | Half-life | Decay mode | Daughter isotope | Spin and parity | Isotopic abundance |
| Isotopic abundance |||
| $^{26}$P | 15 | 11 | 26.01178(21)# | 43.6(3) ms | β$^+$ (62.9%) | $^{26}$Si | (3)+ | |
| $^{26}$P | 15 | 11 | 26.01178(21)# | 43.6(3) ms | β$^+$, p (35.1%) | $^{25}$Al | (3)+ | |
| $^{26}$P | 15 | 11 | 26.01178(21)# | 43.6(3) ms | β$^+$, 2p (1.99%) | $^{24}$Mg | (3)+ | |
| $^{26m}$P | 164.4(1) keV | 164.4(1) keV | 164.4(1) keV | 115(8) ns | IT | $^{26}$P | (1+) | |
| $^{27}$P | 15 | 12 | 26.9992925(97) | 260(80) ms | β$^+$ (99.93%) | $^{27}$Si | 1/2+ | |
| $^{27}$P | 15 | 12 | 26.9992925(97) | 260(80) ms | β$^+$, p (0.07%) | $^{26}$Al | 1/2+ | |
| $^{28}$P | 15 | 13 | 27.9923265(12) | 270.3(5) ms | β$^+$ | $^{28}$Si | 3+ | |
| $^{28}$P | 15 | 13 | 27.9923265(12) | 270.3(5) ms | β$^+$, p (.0013%) | $^{27}$Al | 3+ | |
| $^{28}$P | 15 | 13 | 27.9923265(12) | 270.3(5) ms | β$^+$, α (8.6×10$^{−4}$%) | $^{24}$Mg | 3+ | |
| $^{29}$P | 15 | 14 | 28.98180037(39) | 4.102(4) s | β$^+$ | $^{29}$Si | 1/2+ | |
| $^{30}$P | 15 | 15 | 29.978313490(69) | 2.5000(17) min | β$^+$ | $^{30}$Si | 1+ | |
| $^{31}$P | 15 | 16 | 30.97376199768(80) | Stable | Stable | Stable | 1/2+ | 1.0000 |
| $^{32}$P | 15 | 17 | 31.973907643(42) | 14.269(7) d | β$^−$ | $^{32}$S | 1+ | Trace |
| $^{33}$P | 15 | 18 | 32.9717257(12) | 25.35(11) d | β$^−$ | $^{33}$S | 1/2+ | |
| $^{34}$P | 15 | 19 | 33.97364589(87) | 12.43(10) s | β$^−$ | $^{34}$S | 1+ | |
| $^{35}$P | 15 | 20 | 34.9733140(20) | 47.3(8) s | β$^−$ | $^{35}$S | 1/2+ | |
| $^{36}$P | 15 | 21 | 35.978260(14) | 5.6(3) s | β$^−$ | $^{36}$S | 4− | |
| $^{36}$P | 15 | 21 | 35.978260(14) | 5.6(3) s | β$^−$, n? | $^{35}$S | 4− | |
| $^{37}$P | 15 | 22 | 36.979607(41) | 2.31(13) s | β$^−$ | $^{37}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{37}$P | 15 | 22 | 36.979607(41) | 2.31(13) s | β$^−$, n? | $^{36}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{38}$P | 15 | 23 | 37.984303(78) | 0.64(14) s | β$^−$ (88%) | $^{38}$S | (2−) | |
| $^{38}$P | 15 | 23 | 37.984303(78) | 0.64(14) s | β$^−$, n (12%) | $^{37}$S | (2−) | |
| $^{39}$P | 15 | 24 | 38.98629(12) | 282(24) ms | β$^−$ (74%) | $^{39}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{39}$P | 15 | 24 | 38.98629(12) | 282(24) ms | β$^−$, n (26%) | $^{38}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{40}$P | 15 | 25 | 39.991262(90) | 150(8) ms | β$^−$ (84.2%) | $^{40}$S | (2−,3−) | |
| $^{40}$P | 15 | 25 | 39.991262(90) | 150(8) ms | β$^−$, n (15.8%) | $^{39}$S | (2−,3−) | |
| $^{40}$P | 15 | 25 | 39.991262(90) | 150(8) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{38}$S | (2−,3−) | |
| $^{41}$P | 15 | 26 | 40.99465(13) | 101(5) ms | β$^−$ (70%) | $^{41}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{41}$P | 15 | 26 | 40.99465(13) | 101(5) ms | β$^−$, n (30%) | $^{40}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{41}$P | 15 | 26 | 40.99465(13) | 101(5) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{39}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{42}$P | 15 | 27 | 42.00117(10) | 48.5(15) ms | β$^−$ (50%) | $^{42}$S | | |
| $^{42}$P | 15 | 27 | 42.00117(10) | 48.5(15) ms | β$^−$, n (50%) | $^{41}$S | | |
| $^{42}$P | 15 | 27 | 42.00117(10) | 48.5(15) ms | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{40}$S | | |
| $^{43}$P | 15 | 28 | 43.00541(32)# | 35.8(13) ms | β$^−$, n | $^{42}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{43}$P | 15 | 28 | 43.00541(32)# | 35.8(13) ms | β$^−$, 2n ? | $^{41}$S | (1/2+) | |
| $^{44}$P | 15 | 29 | 44.01193(43)# | 18.5(25) ms | β$^−$, n (55%) | $^{43}$S | | |
| $^{44}$P | 15 | 29 | 44.01193(43)# | 18.5(25) ms | β$^−$ (24%) | $^{44}$S | | |
| $^{44}$P | 15 | 29 | 44.01193(43)# | 18.5(25) ms | β$^−$, 2n (21%) | $^{42}$S | | |
| $^{45}$P | 15 | 30 | 45.01713(54)# | 24(7 (stat), 9 (sys)) ms | β$^−$, n (79%) | $^{44}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{45}$P | 15 | 30 | 45.01713(54)# | 24(7 (stat), 9 (sys)) ms | β$^−$, 2n (21%) | $^{43}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{46}$P | 15 | 31 | 46.02452(54)# | 9# ms [>200 ns] | β$^−$? | $^{46}$S | | |
| $^{46}$P | 15 | 31 | 46.02452(54)# | 9# ms [>200 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{45}$S | | |
| $^{46}$P | 15 | 31 | 46.02452(54)# | 9# ms [>200 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{44}$S | | |
| $^{47}$P | 15 | 32 | 47.03093(64)# | 4# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$ | $^{47}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{47}$P | 15 | 32 | 47.03093(64)# | 4# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$, n? | $^{46}$S | 1/2+# | |
| $^{47}$P | 15 | 32 | 47.03093(64)# | 4# ms [>400 ns] | β$^−$, 2n? | $^{45}$S | 1/2+# | |
| This table header & footer: view |||||||||
* ↑ $^m$P – 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.

## Radioactive isotopes
### Phosphorus-32

$^{32}$P is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus with relative atomic mass 31.973907 and half-life of 14.26 days. $^{32}$P is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus with beta particle-emitting radiocytotoxic activity. Emitted by $^{32}$P, beta particles directly damage cellular DNA and, by ionizing intracellular water to produce several types of cytotoxic free radicals and superoxides, indirectly damage intracellular biological macromolecules, resulting in tumor cell death.

### Phosphorus-33

$^{33}$P is an artificial radioactive element. It is produced with a low yield by the neutron bombardment of $^{31}$P (stable). The $^{33}$P has a radioactive period of 25.3 days. It is a pure β-transmitter. $^{33}$P is used as an alternative to $^{32}$P in research in molecular biology. Indeed, its longer life time and especially its less energetic β spectrum make its manipulation simpler in the laboratory. In the medical field, $^{33}$P has been used in the treatment of arterial stenosis but is no longer indicated at this time.