EOS 335 Part II Flashcards
elements with at least 1 stable isotope
80
known stable isotopes
250
element with most stable isotopes
Tin, 10, 112Sn - 124Sn
elements with 8 stable isotopes
none
elements with 9 stable isotopes
only xenon
mononuclidic elements
27 (single isotope)
elements with at least 1 stable isotope
H - Pb (1-82) except technetium and promethium
elements without stable isotopes
> 82
stables isotopes are what state
ground state of a nuclei
isotopic elements of geochemical/biological interest have
2+ stable isotopes
lightest generally in greater abundance
(C,H,O,N,S)
isotope properties
same protons and electrons = same chemical behaviour
physiochemical differences
isotope properties, same chemical behaviour
enter same chemical reactions
form same bonds
rare isotope can trace abundant isotope
lighter stable isotope
generally more abundant
not Li, B
Important stable isotopes
H, D, C, N, O, S, Cl
isotope properties, physiochemical differences
lead to differences in distribution between phases boiling pt freezing pt density vapor pressure, etc.
Characteristics of elements for isotope effects
relatively low atomic mass
relative mass difference between rare and abundant is large
form chemical bonds w/ high degree of covalent character
abundance of rare is sufficiently high
can exist in more than one oxidation state
low atomic mass, isotope effects
H, He, C, N, O, S, Cl
exception - Fe isotopes fractionated by bacteria
large mass difference, isotope effects
∆m D-H = ca. 100%
∆m 13C-12C = 8.3%
∆m 18O-16O = 12.5%
why measure stable isotopes as ratios
utility- compare identical species/phases
measurement - measuring ratios increases precision
δ
‰
unitless
differences between sample and standard readings
not absolute isotope abundance
natural abundance standard
defined as δ = 0
Stable isotope ratio notations
δ^n X sample (‰) = [Rsample - Rstandard/ Standard] x1000
R
absolute abundance ratio
atom% ^n X / atom% ^m X
e.g. atom% 15N /atom % 14N
light/heavy wording
lots of heavy isotope = enriched, heavy less of heavy isotope = depleted, light e.g. more 13C = heavy, enriched, + less 13C = light, depleted, - 0 = standard
hydrogen stable isotope standards
SMOW, VSMOW
standard mean ocean water
oxygen stable isotope standards
SMOW VSMOW
standard mean ocean water
carbon stable isotope standards
PDB VPDB
Pee Dee Belemnite
13C/12C = 0.0112372
18O/16O = 0.0020671
nitrogen stable isotope standards
atm N2
atmospheric nitrogen
sulphur stable isotope ratio
CDT
Canyon diablo triolite
δ13C atmospheric CO2
-8.2‰
δ13C plants, kerogen, coal
-8 - -55‰
𝛿 13C oil
-22 - -50‰
𝛿13C natural gas
-25 - -100‰
range in hydrogen isotopic variation
-700 - +200‰
range in carbon isotopic variation
-140 - +40‰
range in nitrogen isotopic variation
-60 - +50‰
range in oxygen isotopic variation
-30 - +30‰
range in sulphur isotopic variation
-50 - +40‰
Hydrogen isotope mass differences
99.8%
Carbon isotope mass differences
8.36%
nitrogen isotope mass differences
7.12%
isotopes are subjected to
Isotope effects
higher mass differences =
larger isotope effects
more strongly fractionated
Isotope effects
departure in isotope ratio from global average abundance due to physiochemical mechanisms
types of isotope effects
EIE - equilibrium isotope effects
KIE - kinetic isotope effects
Isotope fractionation
expression of isotope effects
Oxygen mass differences
∆m 16O/18O = 12.%
sulphur isotope mass differences
∆m 32S/34S = 6.24%
causes for isotope effects
chemical, physical properties of isotope
physiochemical properties of isotopes
isotopologues
chemical, physical properties of isotopes
arise from differences in atomic mass
reaction rates
diffusion rates
equilibrium constants
physiochemical properties of isotopes
result of quantum mechanical effects
energy of molecule restricted to discrete E levels
e.g. heat capacity, density, vapour pressure
isotopologues of isotopes
same molecules with different masses
different vibrational energies
e.g. H2, DH, D2
different isotopologues
different masses = different vibrational energies = different zero-point energies
ZPE
zero point energy
energy difference between minimum in potential energy curve and ground state energy (Eo)
Eo =
1/2 hv
h = plancks constant
v = vibrational frequency
ZPE, heavy isotopologue
lower ZPE than lighter isotopologue because v varies inversely with mass
isotopologue bonds
weaker in light isotopologues, easier to break, due to higher ZPE
difference in chemical properties of isotopologues can be evaluated in terms of
vibrational frequencies
transition states, in case of kinetic effects
energy well, isotopologues
heavier isotope lower in energy well- escapes less easily
different ZPE =
fractionation during chemical reactions via 2 processes
- equilibrium processes
- kinetic processes
equilibrium processes
rare isotopes do not partition equally between equilibrating species or between different phases of same species at equilibrium
kinetic processes
isotopologues react at different rates in non-reversible reactions
molecular diffusion rates
differ between isotopologues b/c velocity of molecule depends on Ek and inversely on mass
H2 diffuses slightly faster than DH
different diffusion rates =
isotope effects
isotope fractionation
EIE
generally reversible rxn’s or physical processes
governed by ZPE (QMs)
permits isotope exchange
KIE
rate dependent
generally irreversible rxn’s or physical processes
1º - rxn rate determined by rate limiting step
2º -isotopic substitution is remote from from bond being broken
no isotope exchange
e.g. respiration
consequences of mass differences on isotopes
heavier isotope molecules have lower mobility
heavier isotope molecules have higher bonding energy
kinetic energy of a molecule
kT = 1/2 mv^2
molecules have same 1/2mv^2 regardless of isotope content, heavy isotopes have lower v, react slower
determined by temperature
internal energy of gas molecules due to
translational energies
rotational energies
vibrational energies
internal energy of liquid, solid
stretching
vibrational frequency of bonds
12C18O bond strength
higher mass = low vibrational frequency = stronger bond
heavier isotopes have
lower mobility
higher bond energy
heavier isotope species tend to be
concentrated in more dense/strongly bonded phase
isotope fractionation between two phases
decreases w/ increasing T
isotope fractionation factor
α = Ra/Rb
ε =
(α-1)*1000
α_A-B is
ratio of rare/abundant isotope ratio of species in equilibrium
if α = 1, distribution of compounds is equal
deviation from 1 is equil. isotope effect
fractionation factors expressed as 10^3lnα because
close approximation to permit fractionation between materials (ε)
value nearly proportional to inverse of T (1/T) at low T (ºK)
lnα varies as
1/T in low T
1/T^2 in high T
KIE typically
unidirectional A–> B
incomplete, not all of A reacted to B
relatively rapid
KIE examples
Evaporation
diffusion
enzymatic fixation
e.g. CO2 from atmosphere – plant; restricted by stoma
KE
kinetic energy, KE = 0.5mv^2
diffusion ratio
inversely proportional to mass
Da/Db = mb/ma
e.g. 12C16O2 diffuses 1.1% faster than 13C16O2
reduced mass
µ = (mi*M/mi + M)
why reduced mass used
collisions and interactions lower true diffusive rate
reduced mass diffusion ratio
“true ratio”
D1/D2 = sqr. root (µ2/µ1)
Dissociation energy
heavier molecules have higher dissociation energy
therefore bonds harder to break
For reactions that have not reached equilibrium or completion
light isotope is preferentially in the product pool
heavy isotope is in the reactant pool
evaporation under 100% humidity
almost equivalent to evaporation under closed-system conditions
condensation described by
Rayleigh Distillation Rvap = R^o vap * f^(α-1) Rvap = isotope ratio of remaining vapour R^o vap = isotope ratio of initial vapor f = fraction of vapour remaining α = isotopic fractionation factor
Rvap of condensation will be different for Oxygen than H why and how
𝛿18O will be less negative than 𝛿D because of the mass differences
D much greater than H so isotope effects are greater
single-phase, open-system evaporation under equilibrium
𝛿18O of remaining water - increasing exponentially (becoming heavier, more positive) - preferential loss of light
𝛿18O of instantaneous vapour being removed - also increasing exponentially but α lower than 𝛿18O of remaining water ( - at start)
𝛿18O of accumulated vapour being removed - also increasing but much slower/lower sloped
two-phase, closed system evaporation
𝛿18O of water and vapour increase but much less than open system
𝛿18O instantaneous and cumulative vapour identical
isotopic ratios on land
dependent on distance of transport
what kind of process is evaporation
kinetic process
assumptions of evaporation being a kinetic process
rapid
vapour carried away
D
deuterium
fundamental to understanding isotope systematics of hydrologic cycle
knowledge of isotope effects associated with evap and condensation between air masses, reservoirs
condensation is what kind of process
equilibrium process
easier to deal with mathematically, depends on T alone
larger f in Arctic water or equatorial?
Arctic
higher temperature = lower f
higher temperature = lower alpha
isotope effects in open system clouds, assumptions
isotope equilibrium established btw vapour and condensate in cloud
condensate removed from cloud as precip.; no other sources or sinks - cloud is closed; condensate enriched in 18O, D compared to vapour
If cloud undergoes condensate loss under equilibrium conditions and no exchange with environment, change in isotope ratio of remaining vapour
described by Rayleigh Distillation equation for closed system
Rt/Ro = f^(α-1)
f = fraction of cloud vapour remaining
α = Rcondensate/Rvapour
Rayleigh fractionation curve of cloud
𝛿18O vs cloud T and fraction of remaining water
𝛿18O = 0 at top, decreasing down - lighter, more negative
condensate and vapour lines
cloud T changes, dependent on height, alpha dependent on T
larger isotope effects in clouds why
colder T than land where evaporation occurred
latitudinal variation in precipitation
15ºN: 𝛿18O = -2, 𝛿D = -6
25ºN: 𝛿18O=-5, 𝛿D = -30
60ºN: 𝛿18O = -15, 𝛿D = -110
areas of similar rain composition on a map
isoisotopic lines
isotopes in rain controlled by
latitude (# of rain events)
altitude (T)
distance from coast (# of rain events)
GMWL
global meteoric water line 𝛿Dsmow vs 𝛿18Osmow 𝛿D = 8𝛿18O + 10 y axis = 0 down to -500 x axis = -50 right to 0
Hydrogen isotope uses
hydrology
water
mineralogy
geothermometry
Helium isotope uses
mantle, subsurface geochemistry
pathway tracer
Carbon isotope uses
life
biology
partitioning or organic/inorganic compounds, pools
geothermometry
Nitrogen isotope uses
life
trophic levels
biological processes
exogenic carbon cycle
outside of Earths interior
recycled at surface
Major crustal carbon reservoirs
organic carbon (life)
continental crystalline rocks (graphite, diamond)
**sedimentary inorganic C / carbonates (limestones)
Amount of carbon in reservoirs
atmosphere 800 PgC (10^15) ocean ca. 35,000PgC land plant ca. 1000PgC sedimentary 5x10^22gC Corg 15x10^21gC crust 7x10^21
∂13C for C reservoirs
atmos: -8.3‰
ocean: TDC=0‰, DOC=-20‰
land plants:-25‰
sedimentary: 0-1‰
organic: -23‰
crust: -6‰
oxygen isotope uses
paleogeoscience hydrology water mineralogy geothermometry
sulphur isotope uses
global and regional redox state
biological (bacterial) processes
strontium isotope uses
Earth history
∂13C surface ocean
1.8‰
∂13C deep ocean
0.6‰
∂13C fossil fuels
-28‰
why is there different isotope range for primary producers
source C: -8‰ diff. between marine/atmosphere
diff. fractionation processes w/i PP: C4/phtyo./C3
C3
Calvin-Benson
‘normal’ plants
cooler, wetter, cloudier climates
C4 plant
Hatch-Slack
evolved for low CO2 in Cenozoic (65Mya)
bright, dry, warm places
more efficient with water, less efficient with light
examples of C4 plants
maize
sugar cane
desert plants
‘background’ CO2
180ppm
plant minimum
80-100ppm
difference between C3, C4
C3 takes CO2 into mesophyll cell and directly into C-B cycle
C4: CO2– mesophyll– bundle sheath cell– C-B cycle
function of bundle sheath
concentrates CO2
CAM
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plants
what are CAM plants
have C3 and C4 system that are used separately
what is biggest problem plants have
close stomata when dry conditions to eliminate evaporation - suffocate
C4 plants are advantaged in this way because concentrate CO2 - have some stores
how CAM systems work
Night/rain/cloud: stomata open, build of C pool, no risk of dehydration
day/sunny: stomata closed, feed internally on C pool, no risk of suffocation
where are C3 plants
ubiquitous- all aquatic and ancients
high latitudes, cool climates, forests, woodlands, high latitude grasses
∂13C C3
-23 - -33‰
average -26‰
C4 common plants
tropic/warm grasses, spartina (marsh plant)
when C4 is most favourable
p(CO2) less than 500ppm high p(CO2) C4 is less favourable than C3
∂13C C4
-9 - -16‰
average -13‰
higher plants (angiosperms) -10 - -18‰
10-14‰ more enriched in 13C than C3
∂13C CAM plants
-9 - -33‰
Isotopic range of petroleum
bimodal due to presence of C3/C4 plants, more from C3 (aquatic plants), higher in the -20 - -30‰
C3/C4 plant distribution on earth
C3 in polar regions, tundra, conifer/woodland forests (NA, N Europe), tropical/temperate broad/leaved forests
mixed C3/C4: tropic/temperate desert, semi-desert, tropical woodlands
dominant C4: tropic/temperate grassland
∂13C coal
-25‰
∂13C natural gas
-41‰
∂13C petroleum
-28‰
∂13C anthropogenic CO2
-26‰
making atmosphere lighter, more negative
urban atmosphere ∂13C
-12‰
what happens to isotope ratios during burial and decomp
become heavier
C3 plants: -27‰ –burial - soil org matter -27‰ bacterial decay and respiration(+5‰) - soil CO2 -22‰ – (+10‰) — -12‰
observed discrimination (∂13Catm - ∂13Cplant) vs. (CO2)int/(CO2)ext
no exchange (0,0) – full exchange, open stoma
C4 species plot low on y-axis across x-axis
C3 plot ca. 5-25‰ up y-axis, 0.5-1 on x-axis
why is there observed discrimination
plants that can close stomata - use internal reserves- use light reserves first - (CO2)int decreases
note that in (CO2)int/(CO2)ext only internal is changing in short periods of time, atm is ca. stable
∂13C of photosynthesizers
algae: -10 - -22‰
plankton: -18 - -31‰
kelp: -10 - >-20‰
∂13C of photosynthesizes dependent on
pCO2, T, S, pH
source (atmosphere vs water)
cytoplasm ƒ
temperature effects on ∂13C of photosynth.
higher T = lower fractionation
colder water = more CO2
equatorial plants = lower fractionation
CO2 diffusion rates