What are four uses of isotopes?

Answer 1

uses of isotopes

1.Sourcing archaeological materials,

2.Forensic science,

3.The growth conditions plants,

4.Backing polymer, additives, and glue,

5.detection of humiliation of honey.

Isotopic signatures of materials find increasing use in forensics allowing disguising the origin of otherwise similar materials and tracking the materials to their common source. For example the isotope signatures of C including moisture and nutrient availability. In case of synthetic materials, the signature is influenced by the conditions during the chemical reaction. The isotopic signature profiling is useful in cases where other kinds of profiling, e.g. characterization of impurity, are not optimal.

A study was published demonstrating the possibility of determination of the origin of a common brown PSA packaging tape by using the carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen isotopic signature of the backing polymer, additives, and glue.

Measurement of carbon isotopic ratios can be used for detection of humiliation of honey. Addition of sugars originated from corn or sugar cane (C4 plants) skews the isotopic ratio of sugars present in honey, but does not influence the isotopic ratio of proteins; in an unadulterated honey the carbon isotopic ratios of sugars and proteins should match. As low as 7% level of addition can be detected

Forensics

A recent development in forensic science is the isotopic analysis of hair strands. Hair has a recognizable growth rate of 9-11mm per month or 15cm per year. Hair growth is primarily a function of diet, especially drinking water intake. The stable isotopic ratios of drinking water are a function of location, and the geology that the water percolates through. 87Sr, 88Sr and Oxygen isotope variations are different all over the World. These differences in isotopic ratio are then biologically 'set' in our hair as it grows and it has therefore become possible to identify recent geographic histories by the analysis of hair strands. For example, it could be possible to identify whether a terrorist suspect had recently been to the Middle-East from hair analysis. This hair analysis is a non-invasive method which is becoming very popular in cases that DNA or other traditional means are bringing no answers.

Sourcing archaeological materials

Isotope analysis has been particularly useful in Archaeology as a means of characterization. Characterization of artifacts involves determining the isotopic composition of possible source materials such as metal ore bodies and comparing these data to the isotopic composition of analyzed artifacts. A wide range of archaeological materials such as metals, glass and lead-based pigments have been sourced using isotopic characterization. Particularly in the Bronze Age Mediterranean Lead Isotope Analysis has been a useful tool for determining the sources of metals and an important indicator of trade patterns.

Answer 2

- energy source

- radiation source

- tracer

- fuel for nuclear reactors

- explosive for nuclear bombs