Metal isotope fractionation
Channel: Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum
Date: 2017-11-16

Isotopes, these subgroups of the chemical elements that differ in their mass, must make a choice when a dissolved element moves into a solid crystal: the light isotopes are enriched when a solid formed fast (kinetic isotope effect), or the heavy exchange against the light isotopes (equilibrium isotope effect). 

A science animation designed and produced by:

Friedhelm von Blanckenburg, GFZ Potsdam
Andreas Schulz, Filmbüro Potsdam

DOI: 10.2312/GFZ.3.3.2017.006