deuteriums

Deuterium, also known as heavy hydrogen, is a stable isotope of hydrogen that contains one proton and one neutron in its nucleus. Its chemical symbol is D or 2H. Natural hydrogen includes a small fraction of deuterium, about 0.015% by atoms, with deuterium present in water mainly as HDO and D2O. In scientific literature, the conventional term is deuterium; the plural form “deuteriums” is uncommon and typically avoided in favor of deuterium atoms or deuterium nuclei when referring to multiple instances.

Physically, deuterium has an atomic mass of about 2.014 u. The deuteron (the nucleus) has spin 1 and is non-radioactive. In pure form, deuterium is a gas; when bound as the molecule D2, it forms heavy water with properties that differ from ordinary water. Heavy water has a higher melting point (about 3.8°C), a higher boiling point (about 101.4°C), and greater density (around 1.105 g/mL at 25°C) than H2O.

Applications of deuterium and heavy water include use as a neutron moderator and coolant in certain nuclear reactors, owing to reduced neutron absorption relative to ordinary water. Deuterium is also investigated as a potential fusion fuel in deuterium-tritium reactions. In chemistry and biology, deuterium serves as an isotopic tracer, and deuterated solvents are used in NMR spectroscopy to minimize background signals. Production methods rely on isotopic exchange and fractional distillation of water or other chemical processes to separate and concentrate the heavier isotope from natural hydrogen. Deuterium is not radioactive, and while it is relatively low in toxicity, high levels of heavy water intake can disrupt biological processes.