Natural Abundance
| Also Known As | Isotope natural abundance, relative isotope abundance, atom percent |
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What is Natural Abundance?
The percentage of a particular isotope found naturally on Earth relative to the total amount of that element. For example, carbon-12 has a natural abundance of about 98.9% and carbon-13 about 1.1%. Natural abundances determine the atomic weight of elements.
Properties & Characteristics
Uses & Applications
Safety Information
Always consult the SDS/MSDS before handling any chemical. This information is for educational purposes only.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
The percentage of a particular isotope found naturally on Earth relative to the total amount of that element. For example, carbon-12 has a natural abundance of about 98.9% and carbon-13 about 1.1%. Natural abundances determine the atomic weight of elements.
Natural abundance values are used in: calculating average atomic masses (standard atomic weights), designing NMR experiments (¹H NMR exploits 99.985% natural abundance; ¹³C NMR sensitivity is low at 1.07%), isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), nuclear fuel enrichment calculations (increasing ²³⁵U…
No direct safety concern for the concept. Knowledge of natural abundance guides assessment of radiation exposure from natural radioactive isotopes: ⁴⁰K (natural abundance 0.0117%) is present in all foods and the human body, contributing to natural background radiation.