Is there a difference if...

[Colt_0pz]

... A hydrogen atom has a neutron or not?

[Syntaxvgm]

I think it's called deuterium in that case? 

[Chaos_Sorcerer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_hydrogen and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterium 

 

I've only taken grade 9 Chemistry, so don't quote me on any of this. I just put what I could find on Wikipedia. 

 

Doesn't affect the stability of the atom (that I knew myself).

 

From Wikipedia: It can make "heavy water". It's a "potential fuel for commercial nuclear fusion". It can also reduce the speed of some fast neutrons.

[Dash Lambda]

Yes.
As @Chaos_Sorcerer said, it can make a type of denser water called "heavy water." Heavy water is more viscous than normal water, and it's also dense enough that heavy-water ice will sink in normal water.

The heavier nucleus causes higher bonding energy (plus it's twice the mass of the lighter isotope, which is a bigger relative difference than in any other element), so it can disrupt biological processes when present in high enough concentrations. This is especially apparent in cell division, where it screws with mitotic tendrils (little arms that separate components of a cell) and causes the process to halt or fail, but only when in large concentrations. This presents as slowed or stunted growth, and even kills most multicellular organisms when the concentration is at least 50%. It's harmless in small concentrations of course, and is used as a biological tracer.

It's also useful as a neutron mediator, which basically slows down free neutrons into ones that are useful in a fission reaction (so it basically helps nuclear reactors get hot). It doesn't slow neutrons down as quickly as light water, but it absorbs a far smaller portion of them so it's more efficient.

Also, according to Wikipedia, increasing the heavy water concentration in an organism lengthens its circadian rhythm. It says the process isn't understood, and I don't understand how either, so there's that.

 

Pure deuterium fuses more readily than regular hydrogen (as well as most other substances) and produces far more energy from the reaction, so it's used heavily in experimental fusion reactors and fusion-based weapons. We actually haven't even been able to produce a successful fusion reaction with regular hydrogen.

[Chaos_Sorcerer]

23 minutes ago, Dash Lambda said:

Yes.
As @Chaos_Sorcerer said, it can make a type of denser water called "heavy water." Heavy water is more viscous than normal water, and it's also dense enough that heavy-water ice will sink in normal water.

The heavier nucleus causes higher bonding energy (plus it's twice the mass of the lighter isotope, which is a bigger relative difference than in any other element), so it can disrupt biological processes when present in high enough concentrations. This is especially apparent in cell division, where it screws with mitotic tendrils (little arms that separate components of a cell) and causes the process to halt or fail, but only when in large concentrations. This presents as slowed or stunted growth, and even kills most multicellular organisms when the concentration is at least 50%. It's harmless in small concentrations of course, and is used as a biological tracer.

It's also useful as a neutron mediator, which basically slows down free neutrons into ones that are useful in a fission reaction (so it basically helps nuclear reactors get hot). It doesn't slow neutrons down as quickly as light water, but it absorbs a far smaller portion of them so it's more efficient.

Also, according to Wikipedia, increasing the heavy water concentration in an organism lengthens its circadian rhythm. It says the process isn't understood, and I don't understand how either, so there's that.

 

Pure deuterium fuses more readily than regular hydrogen (as well as most other substances) and produces far more energy from the reaction, so it's used heavily in experimental fusion reactors and fusion-based weapons. We actually haven't even been able to produce a successful fusion reaction with regular hydrogen.

Your profile picture is deceiving (no offense intended, I just didn't expect so much knowledge from someone with that profile picture lol)

[Timbs]

Doesn't make a change at all. It shouldn't if I remember at least. H is already a neutral atom, so adding in another neutral wouldn't make a difference. Now if you were to add a Proton, it would become He. Electron it would be a negatively powered H. I think thats how it works at least, my brain is hecka fried. 

[Oxydoreduction]

An Hydrogen atom is just a proton and electron. Helium has 2 protons and 2 electrons and is an inert gas.

 

Fusion of H with a neutron is indeed called deuterium (tritium has 2 neutrons)

 

If you remove the electron, H+ is responsible for the pH in water that ranges from 0 to 14.

[Teddy07]

On 3.7.2017 at 2:14 AM, Dash Lambda said:

it can make a type of denser water called "heavy water." Heavy water is more viscous than normal water, and it's also dense enough that heavy-water ice will sink in normal water.

 

holy shit. Is there anything you don't know? You are math expert now Chemistry too.

 

I often read your posts when I notice one. I know this guy knows his stuff. Huge respect man!

 

[Dash Lambda]

1 hour ago, Teddy07 said:

Holy shit. Is there anything you don't know? You are math expert now Chemistry too.

 

I am often read your posts when I notice one. I know this guy knows his stuff. Huge respect man!

Thanks!

I wish there was a "Blush" rep button.