Deuterium

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /djuːˈtɪəɹɪəm/, /dÊ’uːˈtɪəɹɪəm/
• US IPA: /djuːˈtɪɹiÉ™m/
• Hyphenation: deu + te + ri + um

Origin

Coined by , an American chemist, from Ancient Greek δεύτερος (deuteros, "second") + -ium.

Full definition of deuterium

Noun

1. (isotope) An isotope of hydrogen formed of one proton and one neutron in each atom - .Heavy water is “heavy” because it contains deuterium.
2. An atom of this isotope.There were about 80 deuteriums for every million protiums, and virtually no tritium.

Synonyms

• heavy hydrogen
• D chemical symbol

Hypernyms

• hydrogen

Coordinate terms

• (isotopes of hydrogen) protium, tritium, quadrium

Derived terms

• deuterium oxide

Related terms

• deuteron