Isotope fractionation become enriched in the liquid phase while the lighter isotopes (O and H) tend toward the vapor phase. Isotope fractionation Isotope fractionation describes processes that affect the relative abundance of isotopes, often used in isotope geochemistry. Normally, the focus is on stable isotopes of the same element. Isotopic fractionation in the natural environment can be measured by isotope analysis, using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, to separate different element isotopes on the basis of their mass-to-charge ratio, an important tool to understand natural systems. For example, in biochemistry processes cause a fluctuation in the amount of isotopes of carbon ratios incorporated into
Atomic mass unit of carbon-12 in 0.012 kg of carbon-12. This can be expressed mathematically as Molecular masses of proteins are often expressed in kilodaltons (kDa or kD). For example, a molecule of a protein with molar mass has a mass of 64 kDa. In research and commerce, the degree of polymerization of synthetic polymers is conventionally expressed in daltons. The US Supreme Court based a major precedent of appellate law on a disputed case of counting daltons for a molecular distribution. Atomic mass unit The unified atomic mass unit or dalton (symbol: u, or Da) is a standard unit of mass that