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Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect01:13

Mass Spectrometry: Isotope Effect

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Most elements exist in nature as a mixture of isotopes. The isotopes differ in weight due to their respective number of neutrons. The molecular weight of a molecule is different depending on the specific isotope of its elements involved. As a result, the mass spectrum of the molecule exhibits peaks from the same fragment at multiple positions. The positions of these mass signals depend on the mass differences between isotopes. Furthermore, the intensity of these signals is dependent on the...
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Extraction: Partition and Distribution Coefficients01:14

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The distribution law or Nernst's distribution law is the law that governs the distribution of a solute between two immiscible solvents. This law, also known as the partition law, states that if a solute is added to the mixture of two immiscible solvents at a constant temperature, the solute is distributed between the two solvents in such a way that the ratio of solute concentrations in the solvents remains constant at equilibrium.
For extracting a solute from an aqueous phase into an...
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¹³C NMR: ¹H–¹³C Decoupling01:04

¹³C NMR: ¹H–¹³C Decoupling

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The probability of having two carbon-13 atoms next to each other is negligible because of the low natural abundance of carbon-13. Consequently, peak splitting due to carbon-carbon spin-spin coupling is not observed in spectra. However, protons up to three sigma bonds away split the carbon signal according to the n+1 rule, resulting in complicated spectra.
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Isotopes01:12

Isotopes

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Elements have a set number of protons that determines their atomic number (Z). For example, all atoms with eight protons are oxygen; however, the number of neutrons can vary for atoms of the same element. The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are called isotopes. Elements can have multiple isotopes, for example, carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14.
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Isotopes and Radioisotopes01:28

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

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In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes — atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
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Automated Sample Multiplexing by using Combined Precursor Isotopic Labeling and Isobaric Tagging cPILOT
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Source partitioning using stable isotopes: coping with too many sources.

Donald L Phillips1, Jillian W Gregg

  • 1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333, USA. phillips.donald@epa.gov

Oecologia
|May 22, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Stable isotopes help trace environmental sources. When many sources exceed tracers, a new method finds source contribution ranges, not exact values. This approach aids in understanding complex environmental mixtures.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Stable isotopes are valuable tracers in environmental studies for source apportionment.
  • Linear mixing models using isotopic ratios can determine source contributions when the number of sources is limited.
  • Challenges arise when the number of potential sources exceeds the number of available isotope tracers, preventing unique solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and validate a method for estimating source contributions when the number of sources exceeds the number of isotope tracers.
  • To determine bounds for the proportional contributions of multiple sources to a mixture using stable isotope data.
  • To provide a computational tool (IsoSource) for applying this method to environmental data.

Main Methods:

  • Examining all possible combinations of source contributions (0-100%) in small increments.
  • Identifying feasible solutions by matching calculated isotopic signatures to observed mixture signatures within a defined tolerance.
  • Utilizing stable isotope systems (e.g., delta13C, delta15N, delta18O) and mass balance principles.

Main Results:

  • The method provides a range and frequency distribution of feasible source contributions, rather than a single definitive value.
  • Application to diverse environmental studies (plant water use, geochemistry, air pollution, dietary analysis) demonstrated its utility.
  • Sensitivity analysis showed modest variation in estimated ranges with changes in increment size and tolerance parameters.

Conclusions:

  • This method offers informative bounds for source contributions in complex environmental mixing scenarios.
  • Reporting the distribution of feasible solutions is crucial for accurate interpretation.
  • The IsoSource program facilitates the application of this technique for environmental source apportionment.