Isotopiche

Isotopiche, in scientific usage, refers to phenomena, properties, or measurements related to isotopes. An isotope is one of two or more forms of an element that have the same atomic number (number of protons) but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers. Isotopes can be stable or radioactive; radioactive isotopes decay over time with characteristic half-lives. The isotopic composition of a material—often expressed as isotope ratios such as 13C/12C or 18O/16O—depends on the source and the processes the material has undergone.

Isotopic analysis relies on precise measurement of isotope ratios. Mass spectrometry is the key technique, with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) used for stable isotopes and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) employed for long-lived radionuclides. These methods reveal subtle differences in isotopic abundances caused by physical, chemical, biological, or geological processes.

Applications of isotopiche concepts are widespread. In archaeology and geology, radiocarbon dating uses the radioactive isotope 14C to estimate ages. Stable isotopes, such as 13C, 18O, and 2H, are used to trace sources and histories in climate studies, hydrology, ecology, and food authenticity. Isotopic labeling involves replacing atoms in a molecule with stable or radioactive isotopes to track metabolic pathways in biology and medicine. Fractionation effects, where processes preferentially use certain isotopes, create distinctive isotopic signatures that aid interpretation across disciplines.