Isotope of hydrogen crossword

Exploring the Isotope of Hydrogen - Deuterium

Crossword puzzles show what we know about many subjects including chemistry. The clue "Isotope of hydrogen" points to one clear answer - Deuterium.

What is Deuterium?

Defining Deuterium

Often called heavy hydrogen, deuterium is a stable form of the hydrogen atom. The common form of hydrogen, protium, has one proton and no neutron. Deuterium has one proton and one neutron. Its mass exceeds that of protium.

Deuterium's Unique Properties

The extra neutron in the nucleus gives deuterium its own set of physical plus chemical traits. Water that contains deuterium boils at a higher temperature. Reactions that involve deuterium proceed more slowly than the same reactions with protium. Because of those traits, deuterium serves as a useful tool in laboratories and in industry.

Uses of Deuterium

Nuclear Fusion Research

Deuterium has a key role in fusion research. When two deuterium nuclei fuse, the process produces energy that is both clean and abundant.

Isotopic Labeling

Scientists swap hydrogen for deuterium in molecules to track how the molecules move through living systems.

• In drug metabolism studies hydrogen atoms in new drug candidates are replaced with deuterium to trace how the body processes the compound.
• Heavy water is used in metabolic studies to measure energy expenditure and body composition.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy employs compounds that contain deuterium to sharpen signals plus to resolve structures.

Deuterium in the Environment

Natural Occurrence

Deuterium appears in the environment only in trace amounts. About 0.015 % of the hydrogen in ordinary water is deuterium, which qualifies it as a rare form of hydrogen.

Deuterium Enrichment

Because deuterium is scarce, it must be concentrated before use. Plants separate it from the far more common protium by distillation or by chemical exchange reactions that raise the proportion of the heavier isotope.

Conclusion

The hydrogen isotope that satisfies the crossword clue is deuterium - a stable, distinctive variant with wide scientific and industrial value. It fuels nuclear fusion studies, serves as a tracer in chemical research and thereby extends both knowledge of nature plus technological capability.