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Related Concept Videos

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.
An element's atomic mass, or weight,...
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Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes02:31

Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes

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A chemical symbol is an abbreviation used to indicate an element or an atom of an element. For example, the symbol for mercury is Hg. The same symbol is used to indicate one atom of mercury (microscopic domain) or to label a container of many atoms of the element mercury (macroscopic domain).
Some symbols are derived from the common English name of the element; others are abbreviations of the name in another language — Latin, Greek or German. For example, the symbol for aluminum (common name)...
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Overview of Connective Tissues Proper01:25

Overview of Connective Tissues Proper

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Connective tissue proper is a class of connective tissue that encompasses all mature connective tissues except bone, cartilage, blood, and lymph. This extensive class of tissues has two subclasses — loose and dense connective tissues — classified based on the protein fiber arrangement and the amount of ground substance. 
The loose connective tissues have a meshwork of thin collagen and elastin fibers, which provide tensile strength for support and enough elasticity to move...
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Inertial Frames of Reference01:03

Inertial Frames of Reference

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Newton’s first law is usually considered to be a statement about reference frames. It provides a method for identifying a special type of reference frame: the inertial reference frame. In principle, we can make the net force on a body zero. If its velocity relative to a given frame is constant, then that frame is said to be inertial. So, by definition, an inertial reference frame is a reference frame where Newton's first law holds valid. Newton's first law applies to objects with...
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Non-inertial Frames of Reference01:27

Non-inertial Frames of Reference

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A reference frame accelerating or decelerating relative to an inertial frame is a non-inertial frame. To help understand this, consider what taking off in an airplane, turning a corner in a car, riding a merry-go-round, and the circular motion of a tropical cyclone all have in common. All these systems are accelerating, decelerating, or rotating relative to the Earth; hence, they all are non-inertial frames. All these systems exhibit inertial forces, which merely seem to arise from motion,...
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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.
An isotope containing...
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A guide for proper utilisation of stable isotope reference materials.

Wolfram Meier-Augenstein1, Arndt Schimmelmann2

  • 1a School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences , Robert Gordon University , Aberdeen , UK.

Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies
|November 9, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Accurate stable isotope ratio analysis requires rigorous calibration and normalization. This study addresses common errors in data reporting and offers guidance for reproducible isotope measurements using appropriate reference materials.

Keywords:
Calibrationcarbon-13hydrogen-2isotope abundancenitrogen-15overviewoxygen-18reference materialscale anchorscale normalisationterminology

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Area of Science:

  • Geochemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Scientific publications on stable isotope ratios often exhibit flawed calibration and normalization practices.
  • Non-adherence to the identical treatment principle for samples and standards, and inconsistent nomenclature, compromise data reliability.
  • Ambiguity and jargon hinder interdisciplinary communication in isotope science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To expose common misconceptions and errors in stable isotope analysis.
  • To provide guidance for reproducible generation, normalization, and reporting of isotope data.
  • To offer a resource for selecting appropriate reference materials based on sample matrices.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common analytical practices and reporting standards in stable isotope research.
  • Identification of deviations from SI-mandated and IUPAC-recommended guidelines.
  • Compilation of information on light stable isotope reference materials and their matrix compatibility.

Main Results:

  • Identified widespread issues in calibration, normalization, and data reporting of stable isotope ratios.
  • Highlighted violations of the identical treatment principle and inconsistent use of nomenclature.
  • Provided a framework for improving the reproducibility and accuracy of isotope data.

Conclusions:

  • Adherence to standardized practices is crucial for the exactness and reproducibility of stable isotope data.
  • Clear nomenclature and proper normalization are essential for reliable interdisciplinary communication.
  • Selecting chemically similar reference materials enhances the accuracy of isotope measurements.