Application of Heavy Water

⁕ Heavy water (D₂O)

↪ Deuterium oxide is popularly known as heavy water. Ordinary water is found to contain 1/6000 parts of heavy water in it.

↪ Heavy water is obtained as a residue left after prolong electrolysis of ordinary water in presence of alkali. When water is repeatedly electrolyzed up to 7^th stage, about 99% D₂O is obtained.

↪ It can also be prepared by the fractional distillation of water where lighter fraction (H₂O) distilled over first leaving behind a residue richer in D₂O.

↪ Heavy water is colorless, odorless and tasteless mobile liquid.

↪ Most of the physical properties of D₂O like M.P., B.P., specific gravity, viscosity, specific heat, dielectric constant etc. are higher than ordinary hydrogen.

↪ Heavy water is more inert than ordinary water. Deuterium bonding with D₂O is stronger than hydrogen bonding with H₂O.

↪ Though D₂O differs with H₂O in its physical properties, its chemical properties are very similar to H₂O.