Question

Suppose an alien life form is discovered on another planet that takes in CH4 from the atmosphere. Which of the following could be used to determine what happens to the CH4 after the organism consumes it?

A. chromatography
B. radioactive tracers
C. x-ray diffraction
D. organic synthesis

Answer 1

The right answer is B

A radiotracer is an entity composed of a carrier molecule and a detectable radioactive isotope using devices such as gamma cameras or positron emission tomography.

A radiotracer is either a radioactive isotope alone or the combination of a molecule and a radioactive isotope. In this case, it is said that the molecule is labeled by the radioactive isotope.

A radioactive isotope is an atom whose nucleus, unstable, emits radiation. It could be :

- alpha radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons.

- a beta radiation consisting of a negative electron (beta) or a positive electron (beta +, positron).

- a gamma radiation consisting of a high energy photon.