Deuterium: Definition, Properties and Uses

Deuterium is one of the two stable isotopes of Hydrogen. The other one is Protium or Hydrogen-1. Deuterium is also known as Hydrogen-2 or Heavy Hydrogen and is chemically symbolized as ²H or D.

• The nucleus of Deuterium contains one proton and one neutron particle.
• It is used as a moderator in nuclear reactors.
• It is also used in NMR spectroscopy and Infrared Spectrometry.
• It also finds its wide usage in chemical and biochemical research involving hydrogen as a tracer.

Key takeaways: Deuterium, Heavy Water, Isotopes, Oxides, Deuterium oxide, Protium, Hydrogen, Atoms, Nucleus, Tritium, Deuteron

NCERT Solutions of: Class 11 Chemistry Chapter 2 Structure of Atom

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What is Deuterium?

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Deuterium or Hydrogen-2 is one of the two stable isotopes of Hydrogen. Its symbol is ²H and it is often called Heavy Hydrogen. The nucleus of Deuterium is called Deuteron which contains one neutron and one proton.

• The other stable isotope of Hydrogen, Protium of Hydrogen-1 which is nothing but a common Hydrogen atom has a common occurrence in nature.
• The name ‘Deuterium’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘deuterons’ which means ‘second’. It denotes the presence of two particles in the nucleus.
• In Earth's ocean, Deuterium has a natural abundance.
• Among every 6420 atoms of hydrogen, there is one atom of deuterium is available.
• It is about 0.0156% of the total naturally occurring hydrogen atoms.
• An American chemist Harold Urey discovered deuterium in 1931.
• He got Nobel Prize for his discovery of deuterium in 1934.

Deuterium 

Read more: Electronic Configuration OF First 30 Elements

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Properties of Deuterium

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Some of the important characteristics of Deuterium are:

• The atomic weight of the Deuterium atom is 2.0141017926 Da.
• Its molecular weight is 4.028gm/mol.
• The density of the deuterium molecule is 0.180 kg/m³ at STP.
• The charge radius of Deuteron is 2.12799(74) fm.
• The nucleus of Deuterium that contains one proton and one neutron is called Deuteron.
• Compared to Protium in the natural composition of Earth, pure Deuterium has a higher melting point (18.72 K) and a higher boiling point (23.64K).
• It also has a higher critical temperature (38.3 K) and a higher Critical Pressure (1.6496 MPa) than common Hydrogen.
• Deuterium can take part in all kinds of reactions an ordinary hydrogen atom can participate in, forming equivalent chemical compounds.
• However, it reacts much slower than ordinary oxygen.
• Thus, the Deuterium compound showcases a significant kinetic isotope effect.
• The deuteron has spin+1 (triplet state). Therefore, it is a boson.
• The NMR spectroscopy also shows a significant difference from that of common hydrogen.

Isotopes of Hydrogen

Read More: Atomic Number and Mass Number

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Deuterium Oxide

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Deuterium oxide is a stable isotope of water molecules containing two Deuterium atoms and one oxygen atom. The chemical formula is D₂O and it is often referred to as ‘Heavy Water’. It is a colourless, odourless and non-radioactive material with a refractive index of (-)1.38. In its major usages, Deuterium is often used in its oxide form.

Deuterium Oxide is primarily found in three forms:

1. Semi Heavy Water
2. Heavy Oxygen Water
3. Tritiated Water

Deuterium Oxide structure

Semi Heavy Water

Semi-heavy water is produced by replacing one protium atom with a Deuterium atom. Its chemical annotation is HDO. It exists whenever there is a mixture of water, Protium and Deuterium. The semi-heavy water is far more common than the ‘normal’ common heavy water.

Heavy Oxygen Water

Generally used in radiotracers and radiopharmaceuticals, Heavy Oxygen Water contains alternate isotopes of water of 170 and 180. It is also known as heavy-density water.

Tritiated Water

Rather than containing protium atoms, it contains Tritium or 3H.

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Handling Deuterium: Precautionary Measures

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• Deuterium and its oxide heavy water are non-toxic and non-corrosive materials and consumption of a small amount of the same does not cause much harm. However, since it is heavier than Oxygen, it may replace it and cause asphyxiation. 
• To prevent harm to the internal organs an immediate administration of oxygen is necessary. 
• Deuterium is flammable like hydrogen so proper anti-flammable outerwear is required while handling deuterium.

Read more: Wave Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation

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Uses Of Deuterium

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Following are some applications of deuterium:

• Deuterium is used as D₂O in heavy water-moderated fission reactors as it slows down neutrons without a high absorption of the same.
• In research reactors, D₂ is used in the liquid form for the moderation of neutrons in the scattering experiments.
• It is used in Infrared spectroscopy.
• It is extensively used as an isotopic tracer in chemical and biochemical investigations involving hydrogen.
• A deuterated drug is becoming more common in usage. As deuterium has a varied kinetic isotopic effect its metabolic rate is slower than that of common hydrogen giving the drug a greater half-life in the system.
• Deuterium can be used to reinforce oxidation-vulnerable C-H bonding in essential compounds such as amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Deuterium can slow down the circadian rhythm in different organisms. It is used for experimental causes in research works.

Fusion Experiments

Read More: Quantum Mechanical Model of Atom

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Things to Remember

• Deuterium is one of the stable isotopes of Hydrogen gas having a nucleus containing one neutron and one proton.
• It is also known as Hydrogen-2 or heavy hydrogen.
• The nucleus of Deuterium is called Deuteron.
• The atomic weight of the Deuterium atom is 2.014 while its molecular weight is 4.028gm/mol.
• Deuterium can enter in all sorts of reactions an ordinary hydrogen atom can take part and form equivalent chemical compounds.
• Deuterium oxide is a stable isotope of water molecules containing two Deuterium atoms and one oxygen atom. It’s chemically represented as D₂O.
• Deuterium and its oxide are used in nuclear reactors, NMR spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. It is also used in biochemical and chemical research involving hydrogen as a tracer element.

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