nitrogen-15
Rare nitrogen variant
Nitrogen-15 is a stable isotope of nitrogen containing seven protons and eight neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 15.
It makes up about 0.4% of naturally occurring nitrogen, with the lighter nitrogen-14 comprising the rest.
Scientists use nitrogen-15 as a tracer in biological and agricultural research to track nitrogen movement through ecosystems, proteins, and metabolic pathways.
The researchers used nitrogen-15 labeling to study how plants absorb fertilizer.
isotope
Measures ionic weight ratios
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- tracerPath-marking projectile
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- fractionationSeparating mixture into components
ecology
Persistent mental attachment
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- biogeochemistryStudy of life-driven elemental cycles
- legumesEdible pod-bearing plants
agriculture
Earth's crop-growing potential
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
paleoecology
Of studying ancient remains
- migration patternsRegular paths species travel
- tooth enamelProtective dental coating
mass spectrometry
Measures ionic weight ratios
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
- tracerPath-marking projectile
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
fixation
Persistent mental attachment
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- biogeochemistryStudy of life-driven elemental cycles
soil fertility
Earth's crop-growing potential
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
archaeological
Of studying ancient remains
- migration patternsRegular paths species travel
- tooth enamelProtective dental coating
turnover rate
Employee departure frequency