heavy hydrogen

noun

1. either of the heavy isotopes of hydrogen, especially deuterium.
2. deuterium.

heavy hydrogen

noun

1. another name for deuterium

heavy hydrogen

1. See deuterium

Word History and Origins

Origin of heavy hydrogen¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

When plants lose water to evaporation in dry weather, their leaves become enriched in a heavy hydrogen isotope, deuterium.

From Science Magazine

The usual fuel for producing controlled fusion in reactors consists of a mix of the heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, which may unite to make helium.

From Scientific American

It must also have been quite dry, as any water, which is naturally enriched in heavy hydrogen during its formation in interstellar space, would have raised the overall deuterium levels.

From Science Magazine

Nuclear fusion releases vast amounts of energy when heavy hydrogen atoms fuse together, but this requires a temperature of 150m C, 10 times hotter than the core of the sun.

From The Guardian

Hydrogen’s cousins, deuterium and tritium, called heavy hydrogen, have been used to make hydrogen bombs.

From Salon