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Related Concept Videos

Isotopes and Radioisotopes01:28

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

8.7K
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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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 difference between the molecular mass. Furthermore, the intensity of these signals is dependent on the...
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Isotopes01:12

Isotopes

57.0K
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,...
57.0K
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

19.0K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
19.0K
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating02:48

Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating

34.3K
Radioactivity is a spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nuclide and is a random process, as all the nuclei in the sample do not decay simultaneously. The number of disintegrations per unit time is called the activity (A), which is directly proportional to the number of nuclei in the sample. The decay constant (λ) is an average probability of decay per nucleus in unit time.
34.3K
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)01:15

High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)

1.5K
The resolution of a mass spectrometer depends on the efficiency of separating ions with different ion masses. The mass of an atom is approximated to the sum of the masses of protons and neutrons inside, considering the masses of protons and neutrons as equal. However, the masses of the proton (1.6726 × 10−24 g) and neutron (1.6749 × 10−24 g) are not truly equal. There is a minor error in the expression of atomic masses relative to the simplest atom of hydrogen. For...
1.5K

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Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
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Response of stable isotopes (δ

Matthias Pilecky1, Travis B Meador2, Samuel K Kämmer3

  • 1WasserCluster Lunz - Biologische Station, Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser Promenade 5, 3293 Lunz/See, Austria; Donau-Universität Krems, Dr. Karl-Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria.

The Science of the Total Environment
|June 3, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Extreme precipitation altered subalpine lake food webs. Isotope analysis revealed shifts in seston and zooplankton, indicating carbon and nitrogen cycling changes due to terrestrial inputs.

Keywords:
Basal aquatic resourcesDeuteriumOrganic matter cyclingPlankton food web

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Lake ecosystems function as critical bioreactors in the global carbon cycle.
  • Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme precipitation events, impacting nutrient and organic matter transport to aquatic systems.
  • Understanding the effects of these events on lake food webs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the short-term impacts of an extreme precipitation event on stable isotope signatures in a subalpine lake.
  • To analyze changes in water, dissolved organic matter (DOM), seston, and zooplankton following heavy rainfall.
  • To assess the effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling within the aquatic food web.

Main Methods:

  • Stable isotope analysis (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O) of water, DOM, seston, and zooplankton.
  • Short-term, high-resolution sampling in a subalpine lake.
  • Integration of isotope hydrology, ecosystem ecology, and organic geochemistry.

Main Results:

  • Excess precipitation and runoff influenced the lake's epilimnion, increasing seston δ13C values due to terrestrial organic matter and carbonate inputs.
  • Settling particles after two days indicated a decoupling of carbon and nitrogen cycling.
  • Zooplankton δ13C values increased post-event, while DOM δ13C remained stable, but DOM δ2H and δ18O showed significant fluctuations.

Conclusions:

  • Extreme precipitation events rapidly alter subalpine lake ecosystems and food webs.
  • Isotope signatures provide valuable insights into the sources and cycling of organic matter.
  • This integrated approach enhances understanding of freshwater ecosystem responses to climate change impacts.