2 ms·
Why is there radium in the fertilizer?
by ambicapter 10y ago
Why is there radium in the fertilizer?
- JoeAltmaier 10y agoNaturally-occurring? Bananas have radioactive potassium for instance. Somehow the biological process (banana plant/animal digestion) must concentrate it.
- maxerickson 10y agoThe banana plant extracts potassium from the soil and deposits it in the banana, but it doesn't do anything to change the isotopic ratio, the makeup of the potassium in the banana will match the makeup of the potassium in the soil. The plant might put a higher percentage of potassium in the fruit than exists in the soil, or it might not. So it isn't clear if it concentrates it (it certainly makes it more appealing to consume it). I'm not sure if that matches your meaning or not.
- searine 10y agoBecause phosphorus is a mined resource and radium/uranium/thorium comes along with it.