Notation. Nuclides are written with the mass number as a left superscript (e.g., ²⁸⁶Nh).
Columns. Stable? — Nihonium has no stable isotopes. Half-lives = evaluated values. Decay → daughter(s) shows main branches. Radiation: α, SF (spontaneous fission). Origin: all isotopes are synthetic. Uses: R research only.
Primary data spine: evaluated Isotopes of nihonium (ENSDF/NUBASE 2020).
Table — ground states
| Nuclide | Z | A | Stable? | Half-life | Decay → daughter(s) | Radiation | Origin | Notes & Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ²⁷⁸Nh | 113 | 278 | No | ~1 ms | α → ²⁷⁴Rg | α | Fusion-evap. | R. |
| ²⁷⁹Nh | 113 | 279 | No | ~170 ms | α → ²⁷⁵Rg | α | Synthetic | R. |
| ²⁸⁰Nh | 113 | 280 | No | ~0.6 s | α → ²⁷⁶Rg | α | Synthetic | R. |
| ²⁸¹Nh | 113 | 281 | No | ~20 s | α → ²⁷⁷Rg | α | Synthetic | R. |
| ²⁸²Nh | 113 | 282 | No | ~70 s | α → ²⁷⁸Rg; SF minor | α; SF | Synthetic | Longer-lived isotope. |
| ²⁸³Nh | 113 | 283 | No | ~3 min | α → ²⁷⁹Rg; SF | α; SF | Synthetic (JINR–RIKEN collab.) | Longest-lived isotope; key for chemistry experiments. |
| ²⁸⁴Nh | 113 | 284 | No | ~1.5 s | α → ²⁸⁰Rg | α | Synthetic | R. |
| ²⁸⁵Nh | 113 | 285 | No | ~5 s | α → ²⁸¹Rg | α | Synthetic | R. |
| ²⁸⁶Nh | 113 | 286 | No | ~20 s | α → ²⁸²Rg; SF | α; SF | Synthetic | Studied in decay chains. |
Natural isotopes of nihonium
- None.
- All isotopes are synthetic, first discovered in 2003 by RIKEN (Japan) through cold-fusion experiments using zinc-70 and bismuth-209.
- Officially recognized as element 113 in 2015, named Nihonium after Japan (“Nihon”).
Applied & research highlights
- ²⁸³Nh (~3 min): longest-lived isotope, enabled first chemical experiments with nihonium.
- Early results suggest it may form NhCl and behave somewhat like thallium (Group 13), though relativistic effects likely make its chemistry unique.
- Experiments are extremely limited due to production of only a handful of atoms.
- No practical applications — fundamental research only.
Totals — Nihonium (Z = 113)
- Ground-state isotopes listed9 (A = 278–286).
- Stable0.
- Unstable9.
Running cumulative totals (through Nh):
From Cn ledger: ≥ 3 314 total, 252 stable, ≥ 3 061 unstable.
Add Nh (+9 total, +0 stable, +9 unstable) → ≥ 3 323 total, 252 stable, ≥ 3 070 unstable.
Sources
- Isotopic list (A = 278–286)Isotopes of nihonium (ENSDF/NUBASE 2020).
- Discovery (2003–2012, RIKEN)Zn-70 + Bi-209 fusion experiments.
- Naming (2015)IUPAC confirmed Nihonium as the official name for element 113.
Next element: Flerovium — Fl (Z = 114).
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Broadband
A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Cybersecurity
The practices and controls used to protect identities, devices, networks, applications, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or manipulation.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Software designed to perform tasks involving prediction, classification, generation, reasoning, or decision support. Business use still requires clear data, governance, security, and human accountability.