NITROGEN ISOTOPES Meaning and
Definition
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Nitrogen isotopes refer to different forms of the element nitrogen that have varying numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei. An isotope of an element has the same number of protons, which determines its elemental identity, but a different number of neutrons. Nitrogen, as an element, typically has seven protons and seven neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 14. However, there are two stable isotopes of nitrogen: nitrogen-14 (with 7 neutrons) and nitrogen-15 (with 8 neutrons).
The term "nitrogen isotopes" is frequently used in scientific studies, particularly in the fields of geology, ecology, biology, and environmental science. These isotopes are used as tracers in various research applications, providing valuable information about biological, chemical, and physical processes. Nitrogen isotopes are commonly employed to investigate nitrogen cycling, nutrient sources, food webs, and patterns of plant and animal migration.
Nitrogen-15, being slightly heavier than nitrogen-14, is often utilized in investigations as it allows scientists to track nutrient sources, such as the movement of nitrogen in soil and water through different ecosystems. By analyzing the ratio of these isotopes in samples, researchers can determine the origin and movement of nitrogen compounds, thereby understanding ecological and environmental processes. Nitrogen isotopes are powerful tools for studying the intricate connections between organisms and ecosystems, helping scientists gain insight into the natural world and the impact of human activities on the environment.
Common Misspellings for NITROGEN ISOTOPES
- bitrogen isotopes
- mitrogen isotopes
- jitrogen isotopes
- hitrogen isotopes
- nutrogen isotopes
- njtrogen isotopes
- nktrogen isotopes
- notrogen isotopes
- n9trogen isotopes
- n8trogen isotopes
- nirrogen isotopes
- nifrogen isotopes
- nigrogen isotopes
- niyrogen isotopes
- ni6rogen isotopes
- ni5rogen isotopes
- niteogen isotopes
- nitdogen isotopes
- nitfogen isotopes
- nittogen isotopes
Etymology of NITROGEN ISOTOPES
The etymology of the words "nitrogen isotopes" can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts.
1. Nitrogen: The word "nitrogen" comes from the French word "nitrogène" which was coined by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790. It is derived from the Latin words "nitrum" (sodium carbonate) and "genes" (born from), meaning "nitrogen is born from sodium carbonate". This is because nitrogen was first discovered by Scottish physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772 when he removed oxygen and carbon dioxide from a sample of air, leaving behind a gas that did not support combustion, which he called "noxious air" or "phlogisticated air". The name "nitrogen" was later suggested to emphasize its origin from nitric acid and nitrates.
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