Kinetic isotope effect both results are large enough to be indicative of weakening of the C-N bond in the transition state that would occur in a concerted process. Since kinetic isotope effects arise from differences in isotopic masses, the largest observable kinetic isotope effects are associated with isotopic substitutions of hydrogen with deuterium (100% increase in mass) or tritium (200% increase in mass). Kinetic isotope effects from isotopic mass ratios can be as large as 36.4 using muons. They have produced the lightest hydrogen atom, H (0.113 amu), in which an electron orbits around a positive muon (μ) "nucleus" that has a mass
Isotope geochemistry The combination of δC and Pa/Th can therefore provide a more complete insight into past circulation changes. Tritium was released to the atmosphere during atmospheric testing of nuclear bombs. Radioactive decay of tritium produces the noble gas helium-3. Comparing the ratio of tritium to helium-3 (H/He) allows estimation of the age of recent ground waters. Isotope geochemistry Isotope geochemistry is an aspect of geology based upon the study of natural variations in the relative abundances of isotopes of various elements. Variations in isotopic abundance are measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and can reveal information about the ages and origins