SELF TEST 4.4

Separates isotopes

Cools down the sample

Burns sample at high temperature to obtain suitable analyte gas for feeding into GC

Burns sample at high temperature to obtain suitable analyte gas for feeding into MS

The analytes must be volatile

The sample is usually in solid form

Specific compound’s isotopic ratios can be measured

Faraday plates are used to detect ions

GC-C-IRMS is used to measure isotopes in gases, EA-IRMS in solid samples

GC-C-IRMS measures isotope ratios in single compounds, EA-IRMS in bulk samples

GC-C-IRMS measures isotope ratios in bulk samples, EA-IRMS in single compounds

C3 plants are on an average less rich in carbon

C3 plants contain on an average less ¹³C than C4 plants

C3 plants contain on an average more ¹³C than C4 plants

Isotope fractionation is more extensive in C3 plants than in C4 plants

Isotope fractionation is more extensive in C4 plants than in C3 plants

Ability to measure very accurately atomic masses of the isotopes

Ability to have as high m/z resolution as possible

Ability to measure very accurately m/z ratios of ions formed during combustion processes

Ability to measure very accurately the ratios of signal intensities originating from ions with different isotopic compositions

Ability to measure very accurately ratios of isotope abundances

Ratio of ¹²C to ¹³C

Ratio of ¹⁴C to ¹²C

Ratio of ¹³C to ¹²C

S

Sr

H

O

Fe

C

N