Introduction
An isotope can be defined as a variant of the same element that has the same atomic number but different mass number.These variants must be of the same elements. That is the have the same number of protons but different number of neutron. Isotopsy is existence of an element in more than one form having the same atomic number but has a different mass number.
Stable and unstable nucleus
A stable nuclear is the one whose the number of proton and neutron in an elements are equal or are nearly equal hence the element nuclear does not disintergrate.The nuclears is not as heavy as in unsteable nuclears.Its majorly found in the light elements.
Unstable nuclear has a heavy nucleotidesThat is it has a high number of nucleotides.The ratio of number of protons to neutron is more than one.Its common in heavy metals and due to its instability nature they disintegrate releasing smaller particles that is alpha, beta and gamma particles.The number of neutron is high than the number of protons in this nuclear(Zimmerman 2001 p.35).
Natural abundance
It refers to the abundance of isotopes of a chemical element as it naturally occurs on the planet. An element can occur in more than one form on the earth. For example, carbon has two isotopes that occur naturally that is 12C and 14C.The abundance with the highest percentage is equal to the mass number.
How atomic number is calculated
The atomic number of an isotope majorly depend on the abundance of the element.The atomic mass of an isotope is calculated by knowing the fraction abundance of the isotope . The atomic weight is calculated by adding all masses of the isotopes multiplied by the fractional abundance.
Atomic weight = mass a*fraction a + massb*fraction b
The atomic weight of an element is always an approximate to the highest percentage of abundance(Abandance2013 p.103).
Isotopes used in agriculture
The food and agriculture organization uses isoitopes and radiation in field of plant breeding, soil fertility,crop production, the insect and pest control,irrigation, livestock production,chemical residues and food production.
Isotopes are used to determine the amount of fertilizers that a particular plant may require. The fertilizers are usually labelled with isotopes such as nitrogen 15 and phosphorus 32and these isotopes provide a means of determining the intake of fertilizers in crop and the amount of fertilizer that go to waste.Nitrogen 15 can also be used to determine the nitrogen that is being fixed from the atmosphere under the field conditions.
Carbon dating which majorly involve the use of carbon 14 are used in the field of agriculture . Carbon 14 is used in determining the age of crops. It can also be used in determining the nutrient uptake of minerals in crops. This technique that involves the use of carbon 14 isotope may be used to determine the nutrients that are required by the crops.
Isotopes can be used in development of improved variety of crops and improved breed of animals.This can be attained through bormbarding of plant cells or animals cells with radioactive phosphorus so as to induce their mutation and as a result also improve their yields.
Insect control to a great extent can also use the isotopes . By using radioisotopes element scientist were able to produce sterilize male insect. To a great extent this technique of using radio isotopes is very effective since the male insect cannot produce there progeny hradioisotopesr of insects pest in the field are reduced.
In agricultural food preservation radio isotopes element may be used so as to preserve the foods. They can produce rays that may kill bacteria and fungi that may lead to the rottening of the foods. It can also be used to produce heat energy that can be used dry grains . By reducing the moisture contents in crops may result to the grain crop staying long without spoiling.
In animal production and health
Radio immunossary is a technique that uses radio isotopes that is usually used to measure the hormonal changes during the cycles of reproduction in cattle.This technique has enhanced reproductive efficiency through use of better management practices and more efficient use of the artificial breeding techniques.
Radiactive isotopes are used in the tissue culture laboratories to create asepsic condition. That is they produce rays that may be used to sterilize equipment in this laboratory. These equipments are always required to be sterile so as to enhance the success of tissue culture.
The isotopes may also be used to determine the soil fertility and nutrient contents of the soils. It can be achieved through the study of soil crystal using radioisotopes. It is an effective method of determining the minerals that are present in the soil since through radioisotopes the minerals in the soil can be determined(Shahid,20133 p.87).
Ethic in application of isotopes
It is an ethical to always applied use of radioisotopes outside the laboratory. This is because most of the isotopes are radioactive and if they are not used well they can be carcinogenic. Hence it may cause the mutation of human cells and as a result iit may become a problem of the world.
Use of agricultural producers that have been made to be resistant to other bacteria may have effects on human .So the improvement of these crops should be done by qualified people so as to reduce the risks that may be involved. Its is unethical to use isotopes if you do not have perfect knowledge on their usage.
Impact of isotopes in the environment.
Most of these isotopes are radioactive and when they are released to the environment they may have effect on the Biosystems and as a result lead to destruction of biodiversity.These isotopes may have effects in the waters and also increase the temperatures of the earth due to their radioactive nature.This may lead to environmental pollution when they are released to the environment in large quantities.
Some of the isotopes are radioactive and when they are released to the environment may cause cancer to human beings.So the release of radioactive isotopes to the environment may make planet earth no inhabitable.
Impact of isotopes in the economy and political structure
Isotopes may be used in production of energy and as a result these energy maybe used in industrial revolution which will finally lead to economic development.application of isotopes in agriculture has also increased the yield from agriculture and as a result also gross domestic product hence this leads to economic growth and developments(Unkovich2001 p 263).
The issues of isotopes also have an effect in the political system. From isotopes it is easy to come up with nuclear weapon which to greater extent is one of the major controversial topics in the world topics.
Conclusion
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Works Cited
Abandance Estimation of Bottlenose Dolphis[i.e. Dolphins] in Walvis Bay. N.p., 2013. Print.
Shahid, Shabbir A, Faisal K. Taha, and Mahmoud A. Abdelfattah. Developments in Soil Classification, Land Use Planning and Policy Implications: Innovative Thinking of Soil Inventory for Land Use Planning and Management of Land Resources. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2013. Print.
Unkovich, Murray, John Pate, Ann McNeill, and D J. Gibbs. Stable Isotope Techniques in the Study of Biological Processes and Functioning of Ecosystems. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2001. Print.
Zimmerman, Daniel J. Isotopes. London: Frame Publications, 2001. Print.
