How is hydrogen in heavy water different from hydrogen in normal water?

1 Answer
Feb 22, 2017

One or both atoms are a different isotope of Hydrogen, namely Deuterium (2H a.k.a. D) instead of Protium (1H).

Explanation:

One or both atoms of Hydrogen in heavy water are Deuterium - the stable isotope of Hydrogen that has a nucleus containing both a neutron and a proton instead of just a proton.

Deuterium (2H or D) has similar but not identical chemical properties to the much more common Protium (1H) isotope.