| isotope effect [`ī·sǝ´tōp i´fekt] PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY The effect of difference of mass between isotopes of the same element on nonnuclear physical and chemical properties, such as the rate of reaction or position of equilibrium, of chemical reactions involving the isotopes. SOLID-STATE PHYSICS Variation of the transition temperatures of the isotopes of a superconducting element in inverse proportion to the square root of the atomic mass. |