deutériummal

Deutériummal is a naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen. It is also known as heavy hydrogen. Deuterium differs from ordinary hydrogen (protium) in that its nucleus contains one proton and one neutron, whereas the nucleus of protium contains only one proton. This additional neutron gives deuterium approximately twice the mass of protium.

Deuterium is found in nature in small quantities, typically comprising about one part in 6,400 of all hydrogen atoms on Earth. It is present in water, forming "heavy water" (D2O) when combined with oxygen. While chemically similar to hydrogen, the mass difference leads to slight variations in reaction rates and physical properties, which are exploited in various scientific applications.

The primary uses of deuterium are in nuclear reactors and scientific research. Heavy water is used as a moderator in some types of nuclear reactors, slowing down neutrons to sustain the nuclear fission chain reaction. In research, deuterium is frequently used as a tracer element in chemical and biological studies due to its distinct mass and spectral properties. It is also used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy. Deuterium is stable and not radioactive.