heavy hydrogen

American  

noun

1. either of the heavy isotopes of hydrogen, especially deuterium.

2. deuterium.

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heavy hydrogen British  

noun

1. another name for deuterium

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heavy hydrogen Scientific  

1. See deuterium

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Etymology

Origin of heavy hydrogen

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

When plants lose water to evaporation in dry weather, their leaves become enriched in a heavy hydrogen isotope, deuterium.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 22, 2022

The usual fuel for producing controlled fusion in reactors consists of a mix of the heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, which may unite to make helium.

From Scientific American • Feb. 2, 2022

Here, the heavy hydrogen atoms merge together in a process called nuclear fusion to make helium, a bit like the reaction that takes place in the sun.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2019

The bears were also injected with a harmless solution of heavy hydrogen and oxygen that allows scientists to calculate how much energy the bears are using during a certain amount of time.

From The Verge • Feb. 1, 2018

On Earth, three in 10,000 water molecules have the heavy hydrogen isotope deuterium.

From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2014