why is hydrogen the only element using this naming convention
2006-09-12 05:42:51 · 5 answers · asked by ? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because hydrogen, being the simplest element, is a special case. Deuterium and tritium are important to nuclear physicists in a way completely separate from normal hydrogen, so separate names are useful.
You can use the conventional notation for hydrogen as well, so this extra privilege does not 'impinge' on any other element.
Good question.
2006-09-12 05:50:49 · answer #1 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hydrogen is special, having just one proton and nothing else. Itis that bare proton that makes acis acidic. So when an isotope actually weighs twice as much it is called deuterium for 2. And when it weighs 3 times as much it is called tritium. No other element has this phenomenon.
2006-09-12 08:06:19 · answer #2 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Hydrogen is the only element that has different names for its isotopes in common use today. (During the early study of radioactivity, various heavy radioactive isotopes were given names, but such names are no longer used). The symbols D and T (instead of 2H and 3H) are sometimes used for deuterium and tritium, but the corresponding symbol P is already in use for phosphorus and thus is not available for protium). IUPAC states that while this use is common it is not preferred."
2006-09-12 06:12:04 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hydrogen Isotopes Names
2017-02-28 12:35:55 · answer #4 · answered by husaini 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were among the first isotopes to be discovered.
2006-09-12 05:55:26 · answer #5 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋