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Applications of Oxygen Isotopes in Chemical Studies

1956; Annual Reviews; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1146/annurev.ns.06.120156.001425

2375-0375

Henry Taube,

Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry

The choice of the general subject of this article requires no apology, but the choice of the specific material to fit to the space allotted does. The limita­ tions and research interests of the reviewer were a governing factor in mak­ ing the selection, but also the consideration entered that the effects of the major omissions are tempered by other recent reviews in which much of the material omitted is discussed. Thus the important work in geochemistry involving oxygen isotopes is discussed in excellent reviews by Dole (I), and more recently by Craig & Boata (2). The work on heterogenous systems is discussed more completely in the article by Dole. It is hoped in this connec­ tion that a general article on the application of isotopes in the study of heterogeneous catalysis, induding work with oxygen isotopes, will be forth­ coming. In the subjects chosen for review, an effort has been made to be com­ plete ; and earlier literature as well as the more recent has been referred to. When work which is within the scope of the subject matter is not cited, it is because of oversight or because the work is dealt with in a more general article by the same author. The present article stresses the application of oxygen isotopes to the study of chemical phenomena in homogeneous solution. Much of the work exploiting oxygen isotope effects has been done for such systems. For reac­ tions of oxygen-containing substances in an oxide-labile solvent such as water, isotope studies can answer important questions which no other method can answer as directly; and they have been of great help in defining the nature of the solvent and of the substances dissolved in it, and in exposing the mechanisms of reactions in solution.