What is the Difference Between Trace and Tracer Elements?

The main difference between trace and tracer elements lies in their purpose and nature. Here are the key differences:

• Trace elements are micronutrients required by plants in minute quantities for their nutrition. They are essential for plant growth and development, and examples include copper, zinc, boron, manganese, and molybdenum.
• Tracer elements are radioisotopes of elements used in plants for tracing the path of a metabolic reaction. These radioactive chemical elements are important for marking the material of study and tracking the progress or history of a natural process. Examples of tracer elements include antimony-124, bromine-82, iodine-125, iodine-131, iridium-192, and scandium-46.

In summary, trace elements are essential nutrients for plants, while tracer elements are radioactive isotopes used to track and study various processes in plants.

Comparative Table: Trace vs Tracer Elements

Trace and tracer elements are two types of elements that differ in their properties and functions. Here is a table summarizing the differences between them:

In summary, trace elements are micronutrients necessary for plant growth and development, while tracer elements are radioisotopes of elements used to mark and study the movement of materials in various processes.