carbon 13: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “carbon 13” mean?
A stable, naturally occurring isotope of carbon, containing 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A stable, naturally occurring isotope of carbon, containing 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
Used as a non-radioactive tracer in scientific research, particularly in isotopic labelling for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and in studies of metabolic pathways.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or orthographic differences. Pronunciations may differ slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Purely technical/scientific term with identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in relevant scientific fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “carbon 13” in a Sentence
The [noun] was analysed using carbon-13 NMR.Researchers labelled the compound with carbon-13.The ratio of carbon-13 to carbon-12 indicates...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carbon 13” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The metabolite was carbon-13 labelled.
- They plan to carbon-13 label the glucose.
American English
- The compound was carbon-13 labeled.
- We need to carbon-13 label the amino acid.
adjective
British English
- The carbon-13 spectrum showed clear peaks.
- We ordered carbon-13 enriched glucose.
American English
- The carbon-13 signature was definitive.
- They used a carbon-13 enriched substrate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used outside of highly specialised scientific/medical companies.
Academic
Core term in chemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, and medical research papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in popular science contexts explaining isotopic dating or medical imaging.
Technical
Fundamental term in analytical chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, metabolic flux analysis, and paleoclimatology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carbon 13”
- Writing as 'Carbon13' or 'carbon 13' without the hyphen in technical contexts.
- Confusing its stable nature with the radioactive carbon-14.
- Using incorrect verb agreement: 'Carbon-13 are...' instead of 'Carbon-13 is...'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, carbon-13 is a stable, non-radioactive isotope. The radioactive isotope of carbon is carbon-14.
Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, while carbon-13 has 7 neutrons. This difference in mass allows them to be distinguished using mass spectrometry or NMR.
Carbon-13 occurs naturally, making up about 1.1% of all carbon on Earth. It is found in all carbon-containing materials in this proportion unless artificially enriched.
The hyphen is standard scientific notation for specifying isotopes. It links the element name to its mass number, preventing ambiguity (e.g., 'carbon 13 atoms' could be misread).
A stable, naturally occurring isotope of carbon, containing 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
Carbon 13 is usually technical/scientific in register.
Carbon 13: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑː.bən θɜːˈtiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑr.bən ˈθɝrˌtin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Follow the carbon-13: (scientific) To trace a process using carbon-13 as a label.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Carbon (atomic number 6) with a 'baker's dozen' (13) as its mass number. 13 - 6 = 7 neutrons.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SILENT TRACER / A HEAVY VERSION (of the common element).
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary scientific use of carbon-13?