The Physiological Effects of Heavy Water

Study in 19 36 by henry barber and jane trace found that heavy water was, in fact, quite lethal if it could replace about forty % of the water in in the body. The chemical principle that's responsible for this is known as the kinetic isotope effect. Duterium is chemically pretty much the same as regular hydrogen. Has got the same charge, the same proton and electron. But because of the heavier nucleus um, there is a tendency for the changes in the isotopic composition to affect the rate of chemical reactions. So even though d to o is chemically a lot like regular h two o, its heavy hydrogen forms stronger bonds with the oxygen atoms in the water