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
Applications of isotopiche concepts are widespread. In archaeology and geology, radiocarbon dating uses the radioactive isotope