oxygen-17

isotope

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July 1, 2026

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Oxygen-17 is a naturally occurring isotope of oxygen. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. While oxygen typically has an atomic mass of 16, oxygen-17 has a slightly higher mass due to an additional neutron in its nucleus. Natural oxygen is a mixture of three stable isotopes: oxygen-16 (99.759%), oxygen-17 (0.037%), and oxygen-18 (0.204%). "Heavy oxygen" is a term used for isotopes of oxygen with a mass number greater than 16, specifically including oxygen-18.12

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Quaternary
Sea-level changes
763 percent), ¹⁷O (0.0375 percent), and ¹⁸O (0.1995 percent). Oxygen is found in all organisms and many minerals, including the aragonite and calcite that make up the shells of marine microfossils such as foraminifera. Oxygen isotopes are useful for geologic studies because the rate of uptake of…
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763 percent), ¹⁷O (0.0375 percent), and ¹⁸O (0.1995 percent). Oxygen is found in all organisms and many minerals, including the aragonite and calcite that make up the shells of marine microfossils such as foraminifera. Oxygen isotopes are useful for geologic studies because the rate of uptake of…
Read More