Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to isotopes: Pertaining to or having the characteristics of an isotope, which are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
   • Characterized by isotopes: Describing a substance, sample, or measurement that involves or is defined by its isotopic composition.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Scientists analyzed the isotopic composition of the water sample. (This describes the composition in terms of its isotopes.)
  • The isotopic signature of the bone indicated the individual's diet. (This describes a signature defined by isotope ratios.)
  • This is an isotopic variant of the common element. (This describes a variant characterized by its isotopes.)

Advanced Usage

• "isotopic analysis": A technique used to determine the relative abundances of isotopes in a sample.
  • Isotopic analysis revealed the origin of the ancient artifact.
• "isotopic fractionation": The process where the relative abundances of isotopes change due to physical or chemical processes.
  • Isotopic fractionation occurs during evaporation.
• "isotopically labeled": Describing a compound where one or more atoms have been replaced with a less common isotope (like carbon-13 or deuterium) for tracking purposes.
  • The isotopically labeled drug was used to study its metabolism.

Variants and Related Words

• Isotope (n): Each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
  • Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon.
• Isotopically (adv): In a manner relating to isotopes.
  • The sample was isotopically pure.
• Isotopy (n): The state or condition of being isotopic; less commonly, the relationship between isotopes.

Synonyms

• None direct: As a technical adjective, there are no perfect synonyms. Related conceptual phrases include "pertaining to nuclear variants" or "of isotopic nature."

Related Phrases

• "isotopic ratio": The ratio of the abundances of two isotopes of the same element in a given sample.
  • The isotopic ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 is a climate proxy.
• "isotopic dating": A method for determining the age of materials based on the decay of radioactive isotopes.
  • Radiocarbon dating is a form of isotopic dating.

Idioms

• None: This is a precise scientific term and is not used in idiomatic expressions.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or having the relation of an isotope