Co
Transition metal
Cobalt
Z 27A 59mass 58.933
Slow-motion stage
Cobalt-60
proton
neutron
electron (β⁻)
Parent nucleus · 60 nucleons
27 protons (coral) and 33 neutrons (blue) are packed together and held by the strong force.
A real decay takes about 10⁻²¹ s. At ⅓× this stage stretches it across eleven seconds.
Choose a reaction
Reaction
6027Co6028Ni+β⁻+ ν̄
A neutron turns into a proton. An electron and an antineutrino fly out.
Z
2728
+1
A
6060
no change
n⁰
3332
-1
Energy released
2.82MeV
Electron (max)2.820 MeV
Mass convertedE = Δm c²0.00303 u
In joules4.52 × 10-13 J
Compared with a bonda C–C bond is 3.6 eV≈ 783,333 ×
Half-life of Cobalt-60
5.27 years
Leaves nickel-60 in an excited state, which then emits gamma rays.
The particle
- Charge
- −1
- Mass
- 1/1836 u
- Speed
- Up to 99.9% of the speed of light
- Ionising power
- Moderate
- Stopped by
- A few millimetres of aluminium