Nitrogen Isotopes

Nitrogen isotopes are different forms of nitrogen atoms that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. The most common isotope is nitrogen-14, with 7 protons and 7 neutrons. There's also nitrogen-15, with 7 protons and 8 neutrons. These isotopes occur naturally and are used to trace biological and environmental processes, such as understanding nutrient cycles or food sources. Because they behave similarly but can be distinguished analytically, nitrogen isotopes are valuable tools in scientific research for tracking the movement and origin of nitrogen in ecosystems and organisms.