I heard that it would kill you by replacing every H in your body with D, but how is that possible since D2O is made by distilling water over and over again to concentrate HDO?
2006-10-06 05:59:21 · 9 answers · asked by Sadbh 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Deuterium oxide is mildly toxic -- but it would take a great deal of D2O in your system to start seeing the effects. Check out the Wikipedia article, it has some good info.
2006-10-06 07:44:58 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know if you would replace every H in your body with D by simply changing from H2O to D2O. Because many hydrogen atoms in your body come from amino acid sources, fats, carbohydrates...these are incorporated into molecules in your body that will not undergo simple H-D exchange.
As an example, your body does not break down a protein into its elemental constituents. It may break down the protein into various fragments, or even all the way down to individual amino acids, but it won't break it down all the way to C, H, S, O, N, etc. Therefore, simple H-D exchange is not always possible.
2006-10-06 06:03:41 · answer #2 · answered by The ~Muffin~ Man 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It would only kill/poison you if you were to drink nothing but heavy water for around 2 weeks. Other than this it would not really do you that much harm if you were just to drink a glass here and there.
2006-10-06 06:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by Showaddywaddy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nothing. Heavy hydrogen (deuterium) is stable and is chemically identical to nomal hydrogen - same for molecules (eg heavy water) that include heavy hydrogen. If you talk about tritium (H3) whcih is an unstable isotope (radioactive) then that is a different matter!
2006-10-06 06:04:24 · answer #4 · answered by mendipmoon 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
small amounts would be harmless. Lots would be a problem. It would start to upset your balance and inner ear. You would feel like you were drunk. Large amounts would most likely upset your body chemistry. The cost of this much heavy water would be horrific, so i don't think you would ever ingest this much.
2006-10-06 06:13:52 · answer #5 · answered by david s 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You would die.
Heavy water slows down the rate f cell chemistry so much it causes cellular death.
2006-10-06 06:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by christopher N 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I have no idea........what i do know is that you should defo give me best answer! Go on, you know ye wanna.....That mad beer blew my feckin' head off!!
2006-10-06 21:18:20 · answer #7 · answered by Eoin B 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It would be harmless. chris....N needs to go back to chemistry class
2006-10-06 06:08:03 · answer #8 · answered by etngapech 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your piss would weigh a ton.
2006-10-06 09:55:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋