noun
- a heavy isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in its nucleus
Usage: chemistry; physics
Examples
- Deuterium is used as a tracer in biological research.
- Heavy water contains deuterium instead of ordinary hydrogen.
- Nuclear fusion reactions often involve deuterium atoms.
- Scientists can detect deuterium using mass spectrometry.
- Deuterium occurs naturally in seawater at low concentrations.
- The deuterium nucleus is called a deuteron.