- Nitrogen's isotopes, as with all other elemental isotopes, are man-made when you alter the nucleus. You will create an isotope just by adding or removing particles within the element's nucleus. In nitrogen's case, you are adding additional neutrons to the mix. Of nitrogen's nine isotopes, only two are stable -- nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. N-14 has seven protons and seven neutrons, while N-15 has seven protons and eight neutrons.
- All radioactive isotopes are made the same way. Scientists use special machines called nuclear reactors and particle accelerators to shoot alpha particles at heavier elements, producing larger and heavier elements. The alpha particles contain two protons and two neutrons. The alpha particles stick to the atoms in the element, making it radioactive. For example, nitrogen's unstable isotopes are created by firing alpha particles at stable isotopes, thus creating heavier, more unstable ones.
- Not every isotope created is stable. Unstable isotopes typically decay over time. During this period, the element releases particles, or energy, called radiation. According to Chemistry Explained, five known radioactive isotopes of nitrogen exist. However, Web Elements lists seven radioactive nitrogen isotopes -- N-12, N-13, N-16, N-17, N-18, N-19 and N-20.
- Nitrogen-15 is often used in tracer studies, when a radioactive isotope is used to detect whether a heavy or a light compound is present in a system. These studies can show nitrogen cycling in an ecosystem or identify the source of nitrogen in surface and ground water. Additionally, N-15 is used for the production of the radioisotope O-15 and for studying absorption in plants and metabolism of proteins. O-15 is important, as it is used in Position Emission Technology, a type of diagnostic imaging used for detecting cancer, neurological conditions and cardiovascular disease.
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