deuterium

American  

[doo-teer-ee-uhm, dyoo-] / duˈtɪər i əm, dyu- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. an isotope of hydrogen, having twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen; heavy hydrogen. 2 H, D; 2.01; 1.

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deuterium British  

/ djuːˈtɪərɪəm /

noun

1. a stable isotope of hydrogen, occurring in natural hydrogen (156 parts per million) and in heavy water: used as a tracer in chemistry and biology. Symbol: D or ²H; atomic no: 1; atomic wt: 2.014; boiling pt: –249.7°C

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deuterium Scientific  

/ do̅o̅-tîr′ē-əm /

1. An isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus has one proton and one neutron and whose atomic mass is 2. Deuterium is used widely as a tracer for analyzing chemical reactions, and it combines with oxygen to form heavy water.

2. Also called heavy hydrogen

3. See Note at heavy water

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Etymology

Origin of deuterium

1933; < Greek deúter ( os ) second ( deutero- ) + -ium

Compare meaning

How does deuterium compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• deuterium vs. hydrogen

Example Sentences

First-generation reactors will almost certainly be fueled by the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium.

From The Wall Street Journal

In their study, Zupan and his colleagues examined a fusion reactor design that uses deuterium and tritium fuel inside a lithium lined vessel.

From Science Daily

Participants consumed water enriched with deuterium and oxygen-18, which are slightly heavier forms of hydrogen and oxygen.

From Science Daily

In addition to spin polarizing half the fuels, the percentage of deuterium would be increased from the usual amount of roughly 60% or more.

From Science Daily

Researchers, working on nuclear fusion, are fusing tritium and deuterium together to maximize the amount of energy created in one small area.

From Los Angeles Times