isotopic tracer

isotopic tracer

[¦ī·sə¦täp·ik ′trā·sər] (chemistry) An isotope of an element, either radioactive or stable, a small amount of which may be incorporated into a sample material (the carrier) in order to follow the course of that element through a chemical, biological, or physical process, and also follow the larger sample. Also known as isotopic indicator; isotopic label; label; tag.