isotooppikoostumuksen

Isotooppikoostumuksen refers to the relative abundance of different isotopes of a chemical element within a given sample. Isotopes are variants of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This variation results in different atomic masses for the isotopes. The isotopic composition of an element can vary depending on the source of the material, such as geological formations, biological organisms, or industrial processes.

The isotopic composition is typically expressed as the ratio of the abundance of a specific isotope to the abundance of another isotope of the same element, often using delta notation (δ). For example, the isotopic composition of carbon (C) can be expressed as δ13C, which compares the ratio of 13C to 12C in a sample to that in a standard reference material.

Isotopic composition is used in various scientific disciplines, including geology, archaeology, and environmental science, to study processes such as the formation of rocks, the diet of ancient organisms, and the sources of pollutants. It can also be used in forensic science to trace the origin of substances. Understanding isotopic composition provides valuable insights into the origins and transformations of materials in the natural world.