Notable Isotopes 
166Yb [96 neutrons]
Abundance: synthetic
Half life: 56.7 hours [ Electron Capture ]
Decay Energy: 0.304 MeVDecays to 166Tm.
168Yb [98 neutrons]Abundance: 0.13%
Stable with 98 neutrons
169Yb [99 neutrons]Abundance: synthetic
Half life: 32.026 days [ Electron Capture ]
Decay Energy: 0.909 MeVDecays to 169Tm.
| The 169Yb isotope has been used as a radiation source substitute for a portable X-ray machine when electricity was not available. Like X-rays, gamma rays pass through soft tissues of the body, but are blocked by bones and other dense materials. Thus, small 169Yb samples (which emit gamma rays) act like tiny X-ray machines useful for radiography of small objects. |
170Yb [100 neutrons]Abundance: 3.05%
Stable with 100 neutrons
171Yb [101 neutrons]Abundance: 14.3%
Stable with 101 neutrons
172Yb [102 neutrons]Abundance: 21.9%
Stable with 102 neutrons
173Yb [103 neutrons]Abundance: 16.12%
Stable with 103 neutrons
174Yb [104 neutrons]Abundance: 31.8%
Stable with 104 neutrons
175Yb [105 neutrons]Abundance: synthetic
Half life: 4.185 days [ beta- ]
Decay Energy: 0.470 MeVDecays to 175Lu.
176Yb [106 neutrons]Abundance: 12.7%
Stable with 106 neutrons
177Yb [107 neutrons]Abundance: synthetic
Half life: 1.911 hours [ beta- ]
Decay Energy: 1.399 MeVDecays to 177Lu.