2007-06-01 07:33:40 · 8 answers · asked by ener712 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Heavy water is used in certain types of nuclear reactors where it acts as a neutron moderator to slow down neutrons so that they can react with the uranium in the reactor. The CANDU reactor uses this design. Light water also acts as a moderator but because light water absorbs more neutrons than heavy water, reactors using light water must use enriched uranium rather than natural uranium, otherwise criticality is impossible. The use of heavy water essentially increases the efficiency of the nuclear reaction
Here's more info;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water#Neutron_moderator
2007-06-01 07:42:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heavy water has been established as that formed by two molecules of deuterium, and that's correct. All water contains some "deuteriated" molecules, and I believe these are obtained by distillation and electrolysis. Check out Wikipedia for more information. Heavy water can be HDO or D2O, and of course the second is heavier than the first.
2007-06-01 11:11:32 · answer #2 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heavy water is water having the isotope of Hydrogen with one more neutron in it called Deuterium. It absorbs certain discharges better. For more details see Wikipedia.
2007-06-02 00:22:19 · answer #3 · answered by straightener 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heavy water is well named, the hydrogen atoms in the water are deuterium atoms, these atoms contain a neutron as well as a proton, these atoms are almost twice as heavy as ordinary hydrogen.
2007-06-01 08:03:23 · answer #4 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are using U235 as your fissile material, you need to slow down fast neutrons to thermal speeds so that the collision cross section for absorption and subsequent fission is enhanced. fast neutrons would just 'skip thro' the U235 nuclide without producing fission- no chain rxn! D2O is the right mass to absorb most of the neutrons Ek without absorbing it, which H2O would. D2O is transparent- you can see what's happening in the core.
2007-06-01 10:18:02 · answer #5 · answered by RTF 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heavy water is deuterium water. the lady who answered before is correct in it's useage. deuterium is hydrogen that contains a proton AND a neutron. it's bigger and heavier.
2007-06-01 07:46:44 · answer #6 · answered by Auggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
H3O
2007-06-03 02:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by peternaarstig 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is what the atomic bomb was made from.
2007-06-01 18:11:00 · answer #8 · answered by Kristenite’s Back! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋