Nehézvízként

Nehézvízként is a Hungarian term that translates to "heavy water" in English. Heavy water, scientifically known as deuterium oxide (D2O), is a form of water where the hydrogen atoms are isotopes of deuterium. Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in its nucleus, unlike the common hydrogen isotope (protium) which has only one proton. This difference in nuclear composition gives heavy water distinct physical and chemical properties compared to ordinary water (H2O).

The density of heavy water is about 10% greater than that of ordinary water. It also has a higher melting point and boiling point. While it looks and tastes like ordinary water, its chemical reactions proceed at a slower rate. In nature, heavy water occurs in very small concentrations, typically around 156 parts per million, mixed with ordinary water. Its production involves separating deuterium from hydrogen, which is an energy-intensive process.

Heavy water has found significant applications, most notably as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors, particularly in those designed to use natural uranium as fuel. It slows down fast neutrons, making them more likely to cause fission in uranium-235. This property makes heavy water reactors distinct from light water reactors, which use ordinary water as both a coolant and a moderator. Beyond nuclear applications, heavy water is also used in scientific research, particularly in spectroscopy and as a tracer in environmental studies. Its unique properties also make it valuable in certain medical imaging techniques.