Does Deuterium Occur Naturally?

Deuterium occurs in trace amounts naturally as deuterium gas, written 2H2 or D2, but is most commonly found in the universe bonded with a protium

protium
Hydrogen (1H) has three naturally occurring isotopes, sometimes denoted 1H, 2H, and 3H. H and 2H are stable, while 3H has a half-life of 12.32 ± 0.02 years. ... The isotope 1H, with no neutrons, is sometimes called protium.
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1H atom, forming a gas called hydrogen deuteride (HD or 1H2H).

Is deuterium found naturally?

Deuterium has a natural abundance in Earth's oceans of about one atom in 6420 of hydrogen. Thus deuterium accounts for approximately 0.0156% (0.0312% by mass) of all the naturally occurring hydrogen in the oceans, while protium accounts for more than 99.98%. ... Deuterium was discovered and named in 1931 by Harold Urey.

How is deuterium formed?

Deuterium is made by separating naturally-occurring heavy water from a large volume of natural water. Deuterium could be produced in a nuclear reactor, but the method is not cost-effective.

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

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