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Isotopes of scandium
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Isotopes of scandium
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Isotopes of scandium (21Sc)
Main isotopes[1] Decay
Isotope abun­dance half-life (t1/2) mode pro­duct
43Sc synth 3.891 h β+ 43Ca
44Sc synth 4.042 h β+ 44Ca
44m3Sc synth 58.61 h IT 44Sc
β+ 44Ca
45Sc 100% stable
46Sc synth 83.757 d β− 46Ti
47Sc synth 3.3492 d β− 47Ti
48Sc synth 43.67 h β− 48Ti
Standard atomic weight Ar°(Sc)

Naturally-occurring scandium (21Sc) is composed of one stable isotope, 45Sc. Twenty-six radioisotopes have been characterized from 37Sc to 63Sc, with the most stable being 46Sc with a half-life of 83.76 days, 47Sc with a half-life of 3.3492 days, 48Sc at 43.67 hours, 44Sc at 4.042 hours, and 43Sc at 3.891 hours. All other radioisotopes isotopes have half-lives shorter than an hour, and the majority of these shorter than 15 seconds. This element also has 13 meta states with the most stable being 44m3Sc (t1/2 = 58.6 h); this is the lightest isotope with a long-lived isomer.

The primary decay mode at masses lower than the only stable isotope, 45Sc, 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 45Sc are calcium isotopes and the primary products from higher atomic weights are titanium isotopes.

Scandium-44 has potential medical use for PET imaging.

List of isotopes

[edit]


Nuclide
[n 1] 		Z N Isotopic mass (Da)[4]
[n 2][n 3] 		Half-life[1]
[n 4] 		Decay
mode[1]
[n 5] 		Daughter
isotope
[n 6] 		Spin and
parity[1]
[n 7][n 4] 		Isotopic
abundance
Excitation energy
37Sc[5] 21 16 37.00376(44) p 36Ca
38Sc[5] 21 17 37.995002(15) p 37Ca
39Sc 21 18 38.984785(26) p 38Ca 7/2−#
40Sc 21 19 39.9779673(30) 182.3(7) ms β+ (99.54%) 40Ca 4−
β+, p (0.44%) 39K
β+, α (0.017%) 36Ar
41Sc 21 20 40.969251163(83) 596.3(17) ms β+ 41Ca 7/2−
42Sc 21 21 41.96551669(17) 680.72(26) ms β+ 42Ca 0+
42mSc 616.81(6) keV 61.7(4) s β+ 42Ca 7+
43Sc 21 22 42.9611504(20) 3.891(12) h β+ 43Ca 7/2−
43m1Sc 151.79(8) keV 438(5) μs IT 43Sc 3/2+
43m2Sc 3123.73(15) keV 472(3) ns IT 43Sc 19/2−
44Sc 21 23 43.9594028(19) 4.0421(25) h β+ 44Ca 2+
44m1Sc 67.8679(14) keV 154.8(8) ns IT 44Sc 1−
44m2Sc 146.1914(20) keV 51.0(3) μs IT 44Sc 0−
44m3Sc 271.240(10) keV 58.61(10) h IT (98.80%) 44Sc 6+
β+ (1.20%) 44Ca
45Sc 21 24 44.95590705(71) Stable 7/2− 1.0000
45mSc 12.40(5) keV 318(7) ms IT 45Sc 3/2+
46Sc 21 25 45.95516703(72) 83.757(14) d β− 46Ti 4+
46m1Sc 52.011(1) keV 9.4(8) μs IT 46Sc 6+
46m2Sc 142.528(7) keV 18.75(4) s IT 46Sc 1−
47Sc 21 26 46.9524024(21) 3.3492(6) d β− 47Ti 7/2−
47mSc 766.83(9) keV 272(8) ns IT 47Sc (3/2)+
48Sc 21 27 47.9522229(53) 43.67(9) h β− 48Ti 6+
49Sc 21 28 48.9500132(24) 57.18(13) min β− 49Ti 7/2−
50Sc 21 29 49.9521874(27) 102.5(5) s β− 50Ti 5+
50mSc 256.895(10) keV 350(40) ms IT (>99%) 50Sc 2+
β− (<1%) 50Ti
51Sc 21 30 50.9535688(27) 12.4(1) s β− 51Ti (7/2)−
52Sc 21 31 51.9564962(33) 8.2(2) s β− 52Ti 3(+)
53Sc 21 32 52.958379(19) 2.4(6) s β− 53Ti (7/2−)
54Sc 21 33 53.963029(15) 526(15) ms β− (84%) 54Ti (3)+
β−, n (16%) 53Ti
54mSc 110.5(3) keV 2.77(2) μs IT 54Sc (5+,4+)
55Sc 21 34 54.966890(67) 96(2) ms β− (83%) 55Ti (7/2)−
β−, n (17%) 54Ti
56Sc 21 35 55.97261(28) 26(6) ms β− 56Ti (1+)
56m1Sc[n 8] 0(100)# keV 75(6) ms β− (<88%) 56Ti (6+,5+)
β−, n (>12%) 55Ti
56m2Sc 775.0(1) keV 290(17) ns IT 56Sc (4+)
57Sc 21 36 56.97705(19) 22(2) ms β− 57Ti 7/2−#
58Sc 21 37 57.98338(20) 12(5) ms β− 58Ti 3+#
58mSc 1420.7(22) keV 0.60(13) μs IT 58Sc
59Sc 21 38 58.98837(27) 12# ms
[>620 ns] 		7/2−#
60Sc 21 39 59.99512(54)# 10# ms
[>620 ns] 		3+#
61Sc 21 40 61.00054(64)# 7# ms
[>620 ns] 		7/2-#
62Sc 21 41 62.00785(64)# 2# ms
[>400 ns]
63Sc[6] 21 42 63.01403(75)# 1# ms 7/2−#
This table header & footer:
  1. ^ mSc – Excited nuclear isomer.
  2. ^ ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
  3. ^ # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
  4. ^ a b # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
  5. ^ Modes of decay:
    IT: Isomeric transition
    n: Neutron emission
    p: Proton emission
  6. ^ Bold symbol as daughter – Daughter product is stable.
  7. ^ ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
  8. ^ Order of ground state and isomer is uncertain.

See also

[edit]

Daughter products other than scandium

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Isotopes of scandium

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from Grokipedia
Scandium was discovered in 1879 by Lars Fredrik Nilson through spectral analysis of rare earth minerals from . The isotopes of scandium are the various nuclides of the scandium (atomic number 21) that differ in neutron number, resulting in distinct mass numbers and nuclear properties. Naturally occurring scandium is composed exclusively of one stable isotope, ^{45}Sc, which accounts for 100% of the element's abundance in the and has an atomic mass of 44.955910(1) u, a nuclear spin of 7/2^+, and a magnetic dipole moment of +4.756483(5) μ_N. Twenty-three radioactive isotopes of scandium had been discovered by 2010, spanning mass numbers from ^{39}Sc to ^{61}Sc, with half-lives ranging from microseconds to days; all undergo (either β^+ or β^-) or , often accompanied by gamma emission. More recent experiments have extended this range, including the observation of the neutron-deficient ^{37}Sc and ^{38}Sc in 2024 via invariant-mass of fragmentation products, and the neutron-rich ^{63}Sc in 2025 through projectile fragmentation of targets, bringing the total number of known radioactive isotopes to at least 26. The longest-lived among these is ^{46}Sc ( 83.79(4) days, β^- decay to ^{46}Ti), followed by ^{47}Sc (3.349(6) days, β^- to ^{47}Ti), while lighter isotopes like ^{40}Sc have half-lives on the order of milliseconds. Several radioisotopes, particularly ^{43}Sc, ^{44}Sc, and ^{47}Sc, show promise for applications such as (PET) imaging and targeted ; further details are covered in the applications section.

Introduction

Overview of isotopes

( 21) has isotopes that differ in their number of neutrons while sharing the same number of protons, leading to mass numbers spanning from 37 to 63. A total of 26 radioisotopes of have been characterized, in addition to the single ^{45}Sc. The nuclear stability of is influenced by the odd number of protons (Z=21), which contributes to effects in the ; this results in having only one , fewer than neighboring even-Z elements like calcium (six ) or (five ). Half-lives of scandium radioisotopes vary widely, from milliseconds for lighter isotopes near mass 37 to several months for longer-lived ones such as ^{46}Sc. The stable isotope ^{45}Sc is the only naturally occurring form of . Artificial production methods enable the synthesis of the radioisotopes for various purposes.

Historical background

The element was discovered in by Swedish chemist Lars Fredrik Nilson, who identified it through spectral analysis of rare earth minerals such as euxenite and sourced from , confirming the existence of the predicted eka-boron in Mendeleev's periodic table. The stable isotope ^{45}Sc was established as the sole natural isotope of scandium during early 20th-century advancements in , particularly through studies in the and that resolved atomic masses and confirmed its monoisotopic nature in terrestrial samples. The first artificial radioisotopes of scandium, including ^{46}Sc, were produced in the and 1940s using bombardment and techniques, marking the onset of synthetic isotope research enabled by emerging particle accelerators and nuclear reactors. Post-World War II developments in the and facilitated the characterization of lighter isotopes from ^{39}Sc to ^{44}Sc through higher-energy particle accelerators, expanding the known isotopic range beyond the stable nucleus. More recently, in 2024, the neutron-deficient isotopes ^{37}Sc and ^{38}Sc were observed for the first time using invariant-mass of fragmentation products. In the , the heaviest isotopes, such as ^{63}Sc, were observed for the first time at the (FRIB) using projectile fragmentation reactions on targets, pushing the boundaries of neutron-rich nuclide synthesis. The evolution of comprehensive isotope tables and databases for in the late was driven by contributions from organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the (IAEA), which compiled and disseminated nuclear structure and decay data through international networks starting in the 1960s.

Natural isotopes

Stable scandium-45

Scandium-45 (^{45}Sc) is the sole stable isotope of , characterized by an of 44.955907(4) u. Its nucleus has a , or spin, of 7/2^- , reflecting the odd number of protons and neutrons in its configuration. The nuclear magnetic dipole moment of ^{45}Sc is measured as +4.75400(8) μ_N , determined through techniques. Additionally, its electric moment is -0.220(2) , indicating a prolate deformation in the nuclear shape. These electromagnetic moments provide insights into the internal structure and single-particle orbitals within the nucleus. As the only naturally occurring isotope of , ^{45}Sc exhibits no observed and is assigned an infinite . Its stability arises from the nuclear configuration featuring a filled subshell at N=24, which contributes to the relative energetic favorability compared to neighboring scandium isotopes. This makes ^{45}Sc uniquely persistent among the 27 known scandium isotopes. In terms of atomic properties, the of neutral ^{45}Sc atoms is [Ar] 3d^1 4s^2 , consistent with scandium's position as the first in the periodic table. Chemically, ^{45}Sc behaves identically to other scandium isotopes, predominantly forming the +3 in compounds due to the loss of the 4s and 3d electrons, and exhibiting properties such as reactivity with oxygen and to form stable oxides and halides.

Natural abundance and occurrence

Scandium occurs naturally as a single stable isotope, scandium-45, which constitutes 100% of all scandium found in natural samples on . No primordial radioactive isotopes of scandium exist, ensuring that all naturally occurring scandium is exclusively the stable ^{45}Sc. On , scandium is present in trace amounts, with an average crustal abundance of approximately 22 parts per million (ppm), making it comparable in rarity to elements like but more dispersed than many transition metals. It is primarily associated with rare earth elements and occurs in over 100 minerals, including thortveitite ((Sc,Y)_2Si_2O_7), euxenite ((Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O_6), and (Y_2FeBe_2Si_2O{10}), often forming solid solutions within these structures. These minerals are typically found in pegmatites, granites, and alkaline igneous rocks, with notable deposits in , , and . Due to its low concentration and lack of economically viable primary deposits, scandium extraction is challenging and limited. Cosmically, scandium-45 is synthesized primarily through explosive in core-collapse supernovae originating from massive stars (≥8 M_⊙), occurring during oxygen, , and burning phases that produce it directly or via the decay of radioactive s like ^{45}Ti. Its relatively low cosmic abundance stems from the specific conditions required in these explosive environments and the rarity of suitable progenitor stellar populations, as well as its position as an odd-Z element near the iron peak where yields are sensitive to explosion parameters. Commercial scandium is recovered almost entirely as a byproduct from the processing of uranium ores, rare earth element concentrates, and other mineral streams such as those from titanium, zirconium, and nickel-laterite operations. Global annual production in the 2020s has been estimated at 30–40 tons, primarily from facilities in China, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and Russia, reflecting the element's dispersed occurrence and the economic constraints of dedicated mining.

Radioactive isotopes

Production methods

Radioactive isotopes are primarily produced using accelerator-based methods, which allow for targeted nuclear reactions on enriched targets such as calcium and . In proton-induced reactions, scandium radionuclides like 47Sc can be generated via the 48Ti(p,2p)47Sc route using medium-energy cyclotrons (typically 15-25 MeV protons), offering high yield potential with enriched titanium targets to minimize impurities. For lighter isotopes such as 43Sc, deuteron beams on calcium targets employ the 42Ca(d,n)43Sc reaction at energies around 5-10 MeV, while irradiation of natural or enriched calcium, such as 40Ca(α,p)43Sc at >20 MeV, provides an alternative for producing positron-emitting scandium species with activities up to several hundred MBq per μA·h. These charged-particle approaches dominate due to their efficiency and accessibility at biomedical cyclotrons. Reactor-based production of isotopes relies on , though it is less common owing to generally low cross-sections and the need for enriched precursors. For instance, the 46Ca(n,γ)47Ca route followed by to 47Sc can yield activities on the order of hundreds of MBq after extended (several days) in high-flux reactors, using enriched 46Ca targets to enhance specificity. Similarly, direct neutron reactions like 47Ti(n,p)47Sc have been explored but suffer from competing side reactions that complicate purification. Reactor methods are advantageous for bulk production but are limited by the scarcity of suitable scandium-enriched targets like 46Sc. Recent advancements have expanded production options beyond traditional cyclotrons and reactors. Electron linear accelerators (linacs) generate photons for photonuclear reactions, such as 48Ti(γ,p)47Sc, achieving yields of approximately 2-40 MBq per mA·h with natural targets and irradiation times of 10-14 hours, offering a cost-effective alternative without proton activation concerns. For exotic heavier isotopes like 63Sc, fragmentation reactions at heavy-ion facilities, such as projectile fragmentation of higher-Z targets, enable synthesis of neutron-rich species, though these require high-energy beams (>100 MeV/) and are typically low-yield for research purposes. Following , radiochemical separation is essential to isolate from the target matrix and co-produced contaminants. Ion-exchange using resins like DGA or UTEVA with dilute HCl eluents achieves recovery yields of 63-95% and high chemical purity (>99%) for from or calcium targets, often in carrier-free form suitable for downstream use. Solvent extraction methods, employing agents like thenoyltrifluoroacetone in organic phases, provide an alternative for initial bulk separation but are less favored due to lower selectivity compared to modern chromatographic techniques. These processes must address challenges like 's chemical similarity to , requiring optimized and resin conditions. Yield considerations for isotope production emphasize the balance between activity levels and purity, particularly for medical-grade outputs. Accelerator methods typically deliver end-of-bombardment activities in the 10-100 mCi range (370 MBq to 3.7 GBq) for routine productions using 1-25 μA beams over 2-6 hours, with enriched targets boosting efficiency by reducing isotopic dilution. Achieving carrier-free purity remains challenging due to trace stable scandium contaminants and long-lived impurities (e.g., from side reactions), necessitating multi-step purification to meet >99.9% standards, though thick targets can enhance total yield at the cost of increased separation complexity.

Key properties and selected isotopes

Radioactive isotopes of scandium encompass mass numbers from ^{37}Sc to ^{63}Sc, exhibiting half-lives that vary dramatically from less than 1 for the most neutron-deficient and neutron-rich to 83.79 days for ^{46}Sc, the longest-lived radioisotope. The decay characteristics reflect the position relative to the stable ^{45}Sc: proton-rich isotopes (A < 45) primarily undergo beta-plus emission (β⁺) or electron capture (EC), while neutron-rich ones (A > 45) favor beta-minus decay (β⁻); is exceedingly rare across the chain. Half-lives exhibit a valley near A = 45, with stability decreasing progressively as mass numbers deviate farther from this point, underscoring the influence of the N = 24 neutron shell closure. Among these, several isotopes stand out for their nuclear properties and potential utility. ^{43}Sc, with a half-life of 3.89 hours, decays via β⁺ emission (88.1%) accompanied by a prominent 372 keV gamma ray, making it suitable for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. ^{44}Sc (ground state) has a 4.0 hour half-life and decays primarily by β⁺/EC (94.3%), emitting a 1157 keV gamma; its metastable state ^{44m}Sc (58.6 hours) features internal transition (IT) decay with key gammas at 271 and 1157 keV. On the neutron-rich side, ^{46}Sc (83.8 days, β⁻) emits low-energy betas (average 0.357 MeV) and gammas at 889 and 1121 keV. ^{47}Sc (3.35 days, β⁻) offers a Q-value of 2.58 MeV for beta decay, with endpoint energies up to 0.60 MeV and gammas at 159 and 1120 keV, positioning it for therapeutic applications. ^{48}Sc (43.7 hours, β⁻) has a Q-value of 1.72 MeV, decaying with betas up to 0.65 MeV and gammas including 1037 and 1312 keV. The following table summarizes all known radioactive scandium isotopes, drawing from evaluated nuclear structure data. It includes (A), , primary decay mode(s), representative decay energy (Q-value in MeV where available, or maximum beta energy), spin and parity (J^π), and notes (e.g., isomers). Data for very short-lived isotopes (A < 40 and A > 58) are limited, with half-lives often <1 ms and uncertain spins; these extremes primarily undergo β⁻ or β⁺/EC with neutron/proton emission in some cases.
AHalf-lifeDecay ModeDecay Energy (MeV)J^πNotes
377^{+9}_{-4} msβ⁺/EC, p emission~8.0 (Q_β⁺)(1/2⁺)Discovered 2024; very proton-rich
385.0^{+1.5}_{-1.0} sβ⁺/EC~8.2 (Q_β⁺)0⁺Discovered 2024
39300 nsβ⁺/EC, p emission~8.2 (Q_β⁺)(7/2⁻)Proton unbound
40182 msβ⁺/EC~8.2 (Q_β⁺)4⁻
41596 msβ⁺/EC~8.2 (Q_β⁺)7/2⁻
42681 msβ⁺/EC~8.4 (Q_β⁺)0⁺
42m61.7 sβ⁺/EC, IT~8.4 (Q_β⁺)7⁺Metastable
433.89 hβ⁺/EC3.57 (Q_β⁺)7/2⁻Used in PET
444.0 hβ⁺/EC3.47 (Q_β⁺)2⁺Ground state
44m58.6 hIT (99%), β⁺/EC0.271 (Eγ max)6⁺Metastable, PET potential
4683.8 dβ⁻3.57 (Q_β⁻)4⁺Longest-lived radioisotope
46m19 sIT0.889 (Eγ)1⁻Metastable
473.35 dβ⁻2.58 (Q_β⁻)7/2⁻Therapeutic potential
4843.7 hβ⁻1.72 (Q_β⁻)6⁺
4957 mβ⁻1.09 (Q_β⁻)7/2⁻
50102 sβ⁻0.61 (Q_β⁻)5⁺
50m0.35 sIT (>99%), β⁻N/A2⁺Metastable
5112 sβ⁻, β⁻n (~10%)0.26 (Q_β⁻)(7/2)⁻Neutron emission possible
528.2 sβ⁻, β⁻n (~10%)~0.2 (Q_β⁻)3⁺
532.4 sβ⁻, β⁻n (~20%)~0.1 (Q_β⁻)(7/2⁻)Neutron emission possible
540.53 sβ⁻, β⁻n (16%)~0.05 (Q_β⁻)(3)⁺Neutron emission possible
5592 msβ⁻, β⁻n (17%)N/A(7/2⁻)Neutron emission possible
5635 msβ⁻, β⁻nN/A(1⁺)Neutron emission possible
5720 msβ⁻, β⁻nN/AN/ANeutron emission possible
5812 msβ⁻, β⁻nN/AN/ANeutron emission possible
59–62<1 msβ⁻, β⁻2nN/AN/AHighly unstable, limited data
63~1 msβ⁻, β⁻2nN/AN/ADiscovered 2025; neutron-rich

Applications and uses

Medical applications

Scandium radioisotopes have emerged as promising candidates for theranostic applications in , combining and due to their chemical similarity to other transition metals like and , which facilitates labeling with common chelators. Specifically, pairs such as ^{43}Sc/^{47}Sc and ^{44}Sc/^{47}Sc enable matched and treatment using the same targeting vector, minimizing discrepancies in biodistribution. These isotopes are typically complexed with DOTA-based chelators conjugated to biomolecules, such as peptides targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) for or somatostatin analogs for neuroendocrine tumors. For (PET) imaging, ^{43}Sc (β⁺ emitter, 3.89 hours) and ^{44}Sc (β⁺ emitter, 3.97 hours) provide suitable decay characteristics for visualizing tumor uptake and . The shorter of ^{43}Sc suits rapid-clearing agents, while ^{44}Sc's longer allows extended imaging windows, both achieving high image quality with standard PET scanners. First-in-human trials of ^{44}Sc-DOTATOC for PET imaging of neuroendocrine tumors occurred in the , demonstrating high tumor-to-background contrast and safe in patients. Similarly, ^{44}Sc-PSMA-617 has been evaluated in early clinical studies for , showing comparable performance to ^{68}Ga-based tracers. ^{43}Sc applications remain largely preclinical but show promise in proof-of-concept studies with PSMA-targeted vectors. In targeted radionuclide therapy, ^{47}Sc (β⁻ emitter, half-life 3.35 days, average β energy 162 keV) delivers moderate-energy electrons for DNA damage in cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, offering dosimetry milder than that of ^{177}Lu or ^{90}Y. Preclinical studies in the 2020s, including mouse models of prostate and breast cancer, have demonstrated significant tumor uptake and growth inhibition with ^{47}Sc-labeled PSMA-617 and folate conjugates, with tumor-to-kidney ratios supporting therapeutic efficacy. For instance, in GRPR-expressing tumor xenografts, ^{47}Sc antagonists achieved dose-dependent tumor reduction without excessive toxicity. No human trials for ^{47}Sc therapy have been reported as of 2025, but ongoing preclinical data support progression to clinical evaluation. Key advantages of radioisotopes include half-lives that align well with the of many targeting vectors, allowing sufficient time for accumulation and clearance, as well as lower compared to heavier s, reducing chelate instability and systemic toxicity. Their production via irradiation of calcium or targets enables on-demand synthesis, potentially improving accessibility over generator-based isotopes. However, challenges persist, including limited availability due to the need for specialized enriched targets and high-current medical s, often requiring on-site facilities to accommodate their half-lives. Purification processes must also ensure high radionuclide purity to avoid dose impurities from longer-lived scandium isotopes.

Industrial and research applications

Scandium-46, with its 83.8-day and prominent gamma emissions at 889 keV and 1,120 keV, serves as an effective in industrial processes due to its detectability and moderate decay rate. In oil refineries, it is employed to monitor , such as the flow of , , and gas mixtures, enabling optimization of efficiency and . Similarly, scandium-46 microspheres facilitate radioactive particle tracking to map flow patterns within chemical reactors, providing insights into mixing and reaction kinetics. In , particularly for applications, scandium-46 acts as a radiotracer to study in aluminum-scandium s, revealing atomic mobility at elevated temperatures like 475–625°C, which informs alloy design for high-strength components. It has also been used to investigate scandium in aluminum , aiding understanding of mechanisms in oxide layers relevant to engine components. In research contexts, scandium-46 is integral to (NAA) for , where stable scandium-45 in samples is irradiated to produce detectable scandium-46, allowing quantification of trace scandium levels in soils, waters, and sediments at parts-per-billion sensitivities. This technique has been applied to assess heavy metal and isotopic activation in aquatic systems, contributing to broader evaluations of environmental contamination near industrial sites. For fundamental nuclear research, exotic scandium isotopes like scandium-63, recently discovered at the (FRIB), enable studies of neutron-rich nuclear structures, probing shell evolution and binding energies beyond stability. Precision mass measurements of neutron-rich scandium isotopes (masses 50–55) further support models of nuclear interactions in astrophysical processes. The stable isotope scandium-45 is essential in industrial alloying, particularly in scandium-aluminum alloys that enhance strength and resistance for structures, such as fuselages and components, where additions of 0.1–0.5% scandium precipitate Al3Sc phases for improved and fatigue life. High isotopic purity of -45 is required in these applications to avoid impurities that could degrade mechanical properties, with commercial scandium typically refined to 99.95% purity. Unintended production of scandium-46 occurs as an product during of scandium-containing materials in nuclear reactors, often arising from products or structural alloys, necessitating careful and radiological monitoring during decommissioning to mitigate environmental release.

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