DEUTERIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, symbolized as ^2H or D, which contains one proton, one neutron, and one electron. It is commonly represented as "heavy hydrogen" due to its higher mass compared to the regular hydrogen isotope (^1H). Deuterium accounts for about 0.0156% of naturally occurring hydrogen on Earth.
Deuterium exhibits similar chemical properties to hydrogen, but certain reactions involving deuterium can lead to distinguishable changes. It forms a heavier isotope of water known as "heavy water" or deuterium oxide (D2O), in which one or both hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium. Heavy water has slightly different physical properties compared to regular water and is often utilized in nuclear reactors as a moderator or coolant due to its ability to slow down neutrons.
The study of the differences in chemical behaviors between hydrogen and deuterium is crucial in various scientific fields. In organic chemistry, deuterium is used in isotopic labeling experiments to understand the kinetics and mechanisms of reaction pathways. Deuterium is also employed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, where its nuclear spin can provide valuable insights into molecular structures and dynamics.
Beyond Earth, deuterium is an important element in astrophysics. It plays a crucial role in stellar nucleosynthesis, the process by which stars generate elements. Deuterium is one of the primary fuels for nuclear fusion in stars, such as during the early stages of the Big Bang. Its abundance in the universe has implications for understanding the origins and evolution of galaxies and cosmic structures.
Top Common Misspellings for DEUTERIUM *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for DEUTERIUM
Etymology of DEUTERIUM
The word "deuterium" has its roots in Greek. It is derived from the Greek word "deuteros", meaning "second". The suffix "-ium" is commonly added to chemical elements to indicate that it is an isotope or a variant of an element. Hence, "deuterium" refers to the second isotope of hydrogen, which has one proton, one electron, and one neutron, whereas the more common isotope, protium, lacks a neutron.
Similar spelling words for DEUTERIUM
- determined,
- determinist,
- determinate,
- detrain,
- determent,
- determine,
- detrimental,
- detriment,
- determiner,
- determining,
- deuteronomy,
- deuteron,
- determinant,
- determan,
- determinism.
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