Skip to main content

Abstract

For light elements like hydrogen or oxygen, species in chemical equilibrium generally have different isotopic compositions. In the last chapter, calculation of stable iso-tope fractionation will provide another illustration of the practical use of statistical mechanics. These calculations are made from basic spectroscopic data with the partition functions derived in the previous chapters. The quantum mechanical origin of isotope fractionation will be demonstrated and the importance of zero point energy emphasized. In conclusion to this book, the relevance of isotope fractionation theory to important environmental and cosmological problems will be pointed out.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Richet, P. (2001). Isotopic Equilibria. In: The Physical Basis of Thermodynamics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1237-0_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1237-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5455-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1237-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics