Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, also called heavy hydrogen, with the chemical symbol D or ²H

  • Discovered by Harold C. Urey (1931)

Application

  • Nuclear Fusion: Fuel in prototype fusion reactors (with tritium) [“mini sun” on Earth] 
  • Heavy Water (D₂O): Neutron moderator in heavy water-moderated fission reactors (e.g., India’s CANDU) 
  • Scientific Tracer: Used in nuclear fusion research & nutrition assessments 
  • Reaction Mechanism: Studying organic reaction mechanisms (deuterium labeling) 
  • Military/Industrial: Nuclear weapons (tritium production), scientific fields.

 

Source: PIB