International Research Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences

ISSN: (2349-4077)
Impact Factor 5.46 Volume 8, Issue 03, March 2021
Website- www.aarf.asia, Email : [email protected]

PATTERN IN THE DIFFERENCE OF MASS NUMBERS

Khwaja Ahmad Shadab
Author Member, IRRO (Copyright Society for Literary Work)
418/1-C, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
Abstract
This paper includes the findings of empirical research. In the case of stable isotopes of an element
(with even number of Z), the heaviest stable isotope possesses the maximum number of neutrons
(the N/Z ratio remains high). Such nuclides of elements and the longest-lived nuclides (in the case
Z > 82) are taken. The two nearest elements (with even-even atomic numbers) are taken, and the
difference of Mass numbers of nuclides is determined. Up to naturally occurring uranium, such
values are recorded. It is found that the maximum number of nucleons increased from one element
to another element remains 6 normally (if don’t include the case found near the Magic numbers).
And thus, the maximum number of neutrons increased remains 4. Then, the trends near the first
unbound proton-rich nuclides and the first unbound neutron-rich nuclides of elements are
identified, and a comparison is made. The remarkable result is found. The pattern in the difference
of Mass numbers helps predict the one-neutron drip lines for the elements.
Key Words: Mass number, Magic number, Neutron drip line
1.Introduction
Mass number (also known as Nucleon number) is used to organize the nuclide chart. Unlike the
nuclear mass, the Mass number is an integer. It is not easy to predict the exact values of nuclear
mass. Even a small error in the value of nuclear mass causes the large deviation in the value of
neutron separation energy. And thus, the location of neutron drip line changes by several units.
But this problem can be avoided if one thinks differently. The pattern in the difference of Mass
numbers helps predict the one-neutron drip lines of the elements. In this paper, the one-neutron
drip lines are predicted with the help of trends found.
From the different regions of the valley of stability, the nuclides are taken for making comparison.
The heaviest stable nuclides, the first unbound proton-rich nuclides and the neutron-rich nuclides
just before first unbound nuclides are considered. The two nearest elements (with even-even, or
odd-odd atomic numbers) are taken, and the difference of Mass numbers of nuclides is determined.
.

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 2. Heaviest Stable Nuclide of the Element
Take the heaviest stable nuclides of the elements [1, 2, 3]. In the case of elements with Atomic
number (Z) greater than 82, the longest-lived isotopes are considered.
46
Ca , 50Ti , 54Cr , 58Fe , 64Ni , 70Zn , 74Ge , 80Se , 86Kr , 88Sr , 94Zr , 98Mo , 104Ru , 110Pd , 114Cd ,
124
Sn , 126Te , 134Xe , 138Ba , 142Ce , 148Nd , 154Sm , 160Gd , 164Dy , 170Er , 176Yb , 180Hf , 186W , 192Os
, 198Pt , 204Hg , 208Pb , 209Po , 222Rn , 226Ra , 232Th , 238U.
(The elements lighter than calcium can be added)
2.1. Now, determine the difference of Atomic numbers (∆Z) of the nearest elements. For example;
∆Z = 2, 22Ti, 20Ca; similarly, ∆Z = 2, 24Cr, 22Ti; ∆Z = 2, 26Fe, 24Cr; ∆Z = 2, 92U, 90Th; and so
on.
2.2. Take the Mass number (A) of each nuclide. And then determine the difference of Mass
numbers (∆A), taking the two nearest elements. The two nearest elements form a set. See the
following sets and the values of ∆A;

Set ∆A Elements

50
1 4 Ti, 46Ca
54
2 4 Cr, 50Ti
58
3 4 Fe, 54Cr
64
4 6 Ni, 58Fe
70
5 6 Zn, 64Ni
74
6 4 Ge, 70Zn
80
7 6 Se, 74Ge
86
8 6 Kr, 80Se
88
9 2 Sr, 86Kr
94
10 6 Zr, 88Sr
98
11 4 Mo, 94Zr
104
12 6 Ru, 98Mo
110
13 6 Pd, 104Ru

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 114
14 4 Cd, 110Pd
124
15 10 Sn, 114Cd
126
16 2 Te, 124Sn
134
17 8 Xe, 126Te
138
18 4 Ba, 134Xe
142
19 4 Ce, 138Ba
148
20 6 Nd, 142Ce
154
21 6 Sm, 148Nd
160
22 6 Gd, 154Sm
164
23 4 Dy, 160Gd
170
24 6 Er, 164Dy
176
25 6 Yb, 170Er
180
26 4 Hf, 176Yb
186
27 6 W, 180Hf
192
28 6 Os, 186W
198
29 6 Pt, 192Os
204
30 6 Hg, 198Pt
208
31 4 Pb, 204Hg
209
32 1 Po, 208Pb
222
33 13 Rn, 209Po
226
34 4 Ra, 222Rn
232
35 6 Th, 226Ra
238
36 6 U, 232Th

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Table A. 1, The exceptional values are noticed.

2.3. Now, make a chart taking the values of ∆A.

Sharp Deviations Near Magic numbers

14
13

12

10
Difference of Mass numbers

10

8
8

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4

2 2
2
1

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Sets of Elements

Fig. A. 1, The trends in the case of heaviest stable nuclides of elements.

2.4. See the chart carefully. Near the electron Magic numbers (36, 54 and 86) [4] or the proton
Magic numbers (50 and 82) [4], the remarkable deviations are achieved. Near the Magic numbers,
the values 10, 8 and 13 can be seen. These values seem infrequent and exceptional. Take the most
frequent and higher value of ∆A. This is found 6. Determine the value of ∆A/∆Z ratio. Such value
remains 3.0.
3. Comparison and Assessment
Now, the first unbound proton-rich nuclides of elements (with odd numbers of Z) are taken to
identify the trends. The elements with odd numbers of Z show the known or confirmed values.
Take these elements [1, 3]. The two nearest elements form a set. See the following sets and the
values of ∆A:
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 Set ∆A Elements

42
1 3 V, 39Sc

45
2 3 Mn, 42V

50
3 5 Co, 45Mn

55
4 5 Cu, 50Co

59
5 4 Ga, 55Cu

65
6 6 As, 59Ga

69
7 4 Br, 65As

73
8 4 Rb, 69Br

77
9 4 Y, 73Rb

81
10 4 Nb, 77Y

85
11 4 Tc, 81Nb

89
12 4 Rh, 85Tc

93
13 4 Ag, 89Rh

97
14 4 In, 93Ag

105
15 8 Sb, 97In

110
16 5 I, 105Sb

115
17 5 Cs, 110I

119
18 4 La, 115Cs

123
19 4 Pr, 119La

128
20 5 Pm, 123Pr

134
21 6 Eu, 128Pm

139
22 5 Tb, 134Eu

145
23 6 Ho, 139Tb

149
24 4 Tm, 145Ho

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 155
25 6 Lu, 149Tm

159
26 4 Ta, 155Lu

165
27 6 Re, 159Ta

171
28 6 Ir, 165Re

177
29 6 Au, 171Ir

181
30 4 Tl, 177Au

189
31 8 Bi, 181Tl

195
32 6 At, 189Bi

201
33 6 Fr, 195At

207
34 6 Ac, 201Fr

214
35 7 Pa, 207Ac

Table A.2, The values 8, 8 and 7 seem exceptional.

(The elements lighter than scandium can be added)
3.1. Now, make a chart taking the values of ∆A.

Trends Near One-Proton Dripline

9 8 8
Difference of Mass numbers

8 7
7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 3 3
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Sets of Elements

Fig. A. 2, Near Magic numbers the exceptional values are noticed.

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3.2. See that in the set of elements, the maximum number of nucleons increased from one element
to another element remains 6 normally (if don’t include the case found near the Magic numbers,
or some exception).
Near the electron Magic numbers (86) [4] or the proton Magic numbers (50 and 82) [4], the values
7, 8 and 8 can be seen. These values seem infrequent and exceptional.
4. Isotopes Near the First Unbound Neutron-rich Nuclides
Then the trends near the first unbound neutron-rich nuclides of elements are identified.
The neutron rich isotopes found just before the first unbound nuclides or very short-lived
radioactive nuclides of the elements [1, 3, 5, 6] are taken. The two nearest elements form a set. See
the following sets and the values of ∆A:

Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

∆A 8 8 4 8 6 6 4

12 20 24 32 38 56 60
Elements Be, C, O, Ne, Mg, Ar, Ca,
4 12 20 24 32 50 56
He Be C O Ne S Ar

Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

∆A 6 6 8 4 8 6 4

9 15 23 27 35 53 57
Elements Li, B, N, F, Na, Cl, K,
3 9 15 23 27 47 53
H Li B N F P Cl

Table A. 3, Elements with even-even or odd-odd numbers of Z.

4.1. In the above Table, near the electron Magic numbers (2 and 10) [4] or the proton Magic
numbers (2 and 8) [4] the value 8 can be seen.
Once again in the set of elements, the maximum number of nucleons increased from one element
to another element remains 6 (if don’t include the case found near the Magic numbers, or some
exception). The value of ∆A/∆Z ratio remains 3.0.
5. Conclusion
After taking data from the different regions of the valley of stability and analyzing them, it is found
that the maximum number of nucleons increased from one element to another element remains the
same, normally. And it remains 6 (six).
Now think again about the neutron-rich nuclides noticed just before the first unbound nuclides or
very short-lived radioactive nuclides of the elements [1, 3, 5, 6]. The value of A remains about 3Z
(except in the case of Z = 2, a Magic number). The value of A/Z ratio remains not far from the
value of ∆A/∆Z ratio (i.e., 3.0). This slight difference seems the result of Magic numbers’ effect.
With the help of identified trends, the one-neutron drip lines for some elements are predicted:
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 Z A A/Z

1 3 (equal to 3Z, or 3Z + 0) 3.0

2 4 (2Z + 0) 2.0

3 9 (3Z + 0) 3.0

4 12 (3Z + 0) 3.0

5 15 (3Z + 0) 3.0

6 20 (3Z + 2) 3.33

7 23 (3Z + 2) 3.28

8 24 (3Z + 0) 3.0

9 27 (3Z + 0) 3.0

10 32 (3Z + 2) 3.2

11 35 (3Z + 2) 3.18

12 38 (3Z + 2) 3.16

15 47 (3Z + 2) 3.13

16 50 (3Z + 2) 3.12

17 53 (3Z + 2) 3.17

18 56 (3Z + 2) 3.11

19 57 (3Z + 0) 3.0

20 60 (3Z + 0) 3.0

21 63 or 65 (predicted) 3.0 or 3.09

3.0 or 3.09
22 66 or 68 (predicted)

23 69 or 71 (predicted) 3.0 or 3.09

24 72 (predicted) 3.0

25 75 (predicted) 3.0

Table A. 4, A pattern emerges near the first unbound neutron-rich nuclides.

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Acknowledgments
Remain grateful for your direct or indirect support:
a) Dr. Mark R. Leach;
b) All experimental physicists;
c) Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

References:
[1] www-nds.iaea.org, 2021.
[2] www.radiochemistry.org/periodictable/, 2021.
[3] www.nndc.bnl.gov, 2021.
[4] M. G. Mayer, The Shell Model, Nobel Lecture, 1963.
[5] O. B. Tarasov, Production of very neutron rich isotopes: What should we know?, 2017.
[6] O. B. Tarasov et al, Physical Review Letters 121, 022501 (published on 11 July, 2018).

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