Elemental composition of the body

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The discussion centers on the composition of the human body, specifically regarding the 10% body mass attributed to hydrogen. It clarifies that this figure includes all isotopes of hydrogen, namely protium (1H), deuterium, and tritium, reflecting the isotopic distribution of ingested substances. While protium is the predominant isotope, there is uncertainty about the presence of tritium, which is expected to be found in very low concentrations. The conversation also touches on the variability of isotopic distribution and atomic masses of elements, emphasizing that these can differ based on the source.
Lisa!
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So when it says that 10% of the body mass consists of Hydrogen, does it mean only 1H(single proton) or it also includes other natural isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium ) ? I know that 1H is the most common hydrogen isotope with an abundance of more than 99.98%, but I just wanted to know exaactly what it means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body

Thanks:smile:
 
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That includes all of the isotopes of hydrogen. It will reflect the isotopic distribution of everything you ingest. I'm not too sure about tritium though. I would hope that particular isotope is present in extremely low concentrations.
 
chemisttree said:
That includes all of the isotopes of hydrogen. It will reflect the isotopic distribution of everything you ingest. I'm not too sure about tritium though. I would hope that particular isotope is present in extremely low concentrations.


Thank you!:smile:
 
To muddy water - isotopic distribution is not always identical.

See for example http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Periodic+table+weighty+revamp/3978117/story.html .

Not that it is something new, fact that atomic masses of elements are different depending on the source is known for many years.
 
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Borek said:
To muddy water - isotopic distribution is not always identical.

See for example http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Periodic+table+weighty+revamp/3978117/story.html .

Not that it is something new, fact that atomic masses of elements are different depending on the source is known for many years.

hmmm...That's interesting!Thank you:smile:
Thanks God that I'm not at school anymore:biggrin:
 
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Lisa! said:
hmmm...That's interesting!Thank you:smile:
Thanks God that I'm not at school anymore:biggrin:


And http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/jf1003539" too!
 
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