tritium

[ trit-ee-uhm, trish-, trish-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. an isotope of hydrogen having an atomic weight of three. : 3 H, T

tritium

/ ˈtrɪtɪəm /

noun

1. a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, occurring in trace amounts in natural hydrogen and produced in a nuclear reactor. Tritiated compounds are used as tracers. Symbol: T or ³H; half-life: 12.5 years

tritium

/ trĭt′ē-əm,trĭsh′ē-əm /

1. A radioactive isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus has one proton and two neutrons with atomic mass of about 3 and a half life of 12.5 years. Tritium is rare in nature but can be made artificially in nuclear reactions. It is used in thermonuclear weapons and luminescent paints, and sometimes as a tracer.
2. See more at hydrogen

Word History and Origins

Origin of tritium¹

1930–35; < New Latin < Greek trít ( os ) third ( tri- tri- + -tos adj. suffix) + New Latin -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of tritium¹

C20: New Latin, from Greek tritos third

Example Sentences

Researchers, working on nuclear fusion, are fusing tritium and deuterium together to maximize the amount of energy created in one small area.

From Los Angeles Times

Records show that from the 1940s through the 1960s, it was not uncommon for local hospitals, labs and other industrial operations to dispose barrels of tritium, carbon-14 and other similar waste at sea.

From Los Angeles Times

The NRC says tritium spills happen from time to time but typically don’t affect public health or safety.

From Seattle Times

Officials say the treated wastewater still contains the radioactive isotope tritium, but at concentrations that meet regulatory standards and are lower than that of other nuclear facilities.

From Los Angeles Times

One limitation is that JT-60SA will only use hydrogen and its isotope deuterium in its experiments, not tritium—a third form of hydrogen that is expensive, scarce, and radioactive.

From Science Magazine