What is thick water?

Here's some information about thick water, presented in Markdown with links:

Thick water, also known as heavy water, or deuterium oxide (D₂O), is a form of water in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium, a heavier isotope of hydrogen.

• Chemical and Physical Properties: Due to the heavier mass of deuterium, heavy water has slightly different physical properties than normal water (H₂O). These differences include a higher boiling point, higher freezing point, increased density, and altered pH. These properties are described in the subjects of <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Chemical%20Properties">Chemical Properties</a> and <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Physical%20Properties">Physical Properties</a>.

• Production: Heavy water is primarily produced through the Girdler sulfide process (GS process) or by electrolysis. These processes exploit the slight differences in the properties of normal water and heavy water to separate them.

• Nuclear Reactors: Its primary use is as a neutron moderator in some types of nuclear reactors. Heavy water slows down neutrons effectively, increasing the probability of nuclear fission. This topic is covered in <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Nuclear%20Reactors">Nuclear Reactors</a>.

• Isotopic Tracer: Heavy water can also be used as an isotopic tracer in chemical and biological research. Replacing normal water with heavy water allows researchers to track the movement and reactions of water molecules. <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Isotopic%20Tracer">Isotopic Tracer</a> provides further information.

• Biological Effects: While not acutely toxic, heavy water can be harmful to living organisms in large concentrations. Deuterium can affect the rates of biochemical reactions. Prolonged consumption of heavy water can lead to adverse health effects. More details are present in <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Biological%20Effects">Biological Effects</a>.