Tracers

Tracers are substances used in various fields, including medicine, chemistry, and geology, to track or monitor processes, reactions, or movements. They are often used in diagnostic imaging in medicine, in isotope geochemistry in geology, and in chemical kinetics in chemistry.

Overview

Tracers can be either chemical tracers or radioactive tracers. Chemical tracers are substances with a known chemical reaction rate, which can be used to follow the progress of a chemical reaction or process. Radioactive tracers, on the other hand, are radioactive isotopes that can be detected due to their radioactivity.

Use in Medicine

In medicine, tracers are often used in diagnostic imaging techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). These techniques involve the injection of a radioactive tracer into the body, which then accumulates in certain tissues or organs. The radiation emitted by the tracer can then be detected and used to create images of the inside of the body.

Use in Chemistry

In chemistry, tracers are used in chemical kinetics to study the rates of chemical reactions. By adding a small amount of a tracer to a reaction, chemists can track the progress of the reaction and determine its rate. This can be particularly useful in studying complex reactions that involve multiple steps or pathways.

Use in Geology

In geology, tracers are used in isotope geochemistry to study the age and origin of rocks and minerals. By analyzing the ratio of different isotopes in a sample, geologists can determine the age of the sample and trace its history. This can provide valuable information about the history of the Earth and its geological processes.

See Also

• Radioactive decay
• Isotope
• Diagnostic imaging
• Chemical kinetics
• Isotope geochemistry