1. Number of Neutrons:
* Hydrogen-2 (Deuterium): Has one proton and one neutron.
* Hydrogen-3 (Tritium): Has one proton and two neutrons.
2. Atomic Mass:
* Deuterium: Atomic mass of approximately 2 amu (atomic mass units).
* Tritium: Atomic mass of approximately 3 amu.
3. Stability:
* Deuterium: Stable isotope, meaning it does not decay radioactively.
* Tritium: Radioactive isotope, meaning it decays over time, emitting beta particles. It has a half-life of about 12.3 years.
4. Occurrence in Nature:
* Deuterium: Found in small amounts (about 0.015% of natural hydrogen).
* Tritium: Naturally occurs in trace amounts, primarily formed by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere.
5. Uses:
* Deuterium: Used in nuclear fusion reactions, as a tracer in biological studies, and in the production of heavy water (D₂O).
* Tritium: Used in luminous paints for watches and other devices, as a tracer in research, and in nuclear weapons.
Key Point: Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons (which defines the element) but different numbers of neutrons. This difference in neutrons leads to the variations in atomic mass, stability, and other properties.
