Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

DNA Stable-Isotope Probing DNA-SIP
Published on: August 2, 2010
Environmental applications of metal stable isotopes: Silver, mercury and zinc
Wei Li1, Wenxian Gou1, Weiqiang Li2
1Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Abstract:
With developments in multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), applications of metal stable isotopes received increasing attentions in the studies of source and fate of heavy metals in the environment. In light of the rapid progresses in this emerging field, we attempted to review the recent findings comprehensively in a way that environmental scientists can easily read. This review started with an introduction of basic terminologies in isotope geochemistry, followed with detailed descriptions of instrumentation and analytical procedures, and finally focused on the cases of three typical metal stable isotopes (Ag, Hg and Zn) to illustrate how they were applied to address environmental issues. Additionally, future perspectives on the applicability, opportunities, and limitations of metal stable isotope techniques as novel approaches in advancing environmental chemistry were discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Isotopes
An element's atomic mass, or weight,...
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Alkali Metals
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals
Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes
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)...
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

