what is the meaning of tracer elenent.?

A tracer element is a rdioactive isotope of an element that can be used to trace a pathway. This might be a biochemical pathway or even a pipeline to find a leak.

The tracer elements are radio active isotopes. Eg, P-32. This P32 is a radio active isotope. This element can be used to study the phosphorus uptake and accumulation pattern in crop plants (in agriculture science). A know quantity of this P32 is mixed along with the ordinary phosphatic fertilisers and applied to crop plants in pot culture. After some times, the distribution of this applied P32 can be estimated by the GM-counter (Giger Muller counter) in various parts of the plant. Thus the movement and accumualtion of the phosporus can be traced with the help of radio activity. Thus this type of elements are called tracer elements.

In inorganic chemistry, tracers have made possible the study of systems in which no net chemical reaction occurs but in which, for example, two oxidation states of the same element are present. Tracer techniques have shown that, without net chemical reaction, an interchange of atoms takes place between such forms as cobalt(II) and cobalt(III). Such interchanges, which are known as exchange reactions, are a logical extension of the chemical principle of dynamic equilibrium.

It is a radioactive isotope element.It is introduced in a one part of the system,& its mobility is traced.

For ex;

To find whether the plant took phosphorous or not?(in agriculture)

Solution:

(Tracer element::P*)

Add a trace amount of radioactive phosphorous(P*)with the original P.And it is introduced to the plant.After some days,the radioactivity of plant is measured(using keigher muller,etc).If radio activity is zero,we can say the plant doesnt take P.If radio activity is present,then we say ,the plant took P.

It is a radioactive element or it's Isotop, used in experiments so that its movements can be monitored