deuterium
UK[djuːˈtɪəriəm]US[duːˈtɪriəm]
n
a stable isotope of hydrogen with a mass approximately twice that of the common light hydrogen isotope.
Morpheme Breakdown
deuter
ium
deuter
second
ium
chemical element suffix
Etymology
the term deuterium was coined in the 1930s following the discovery of this heavy hydrogen isotope. it derives from the ancient greek word 'deuteros', meaning 'second', as deuterium was the second isotope of hydrogen to be identified. the suffix '-ium', commonly used in latin for metallic elements, was appended to conform with chemical nomenclature conventions for naming elements and their isotopes. thus, the name literally signifies 'the second (isotope)', reflecting its place in the sequence of hydrogen's discovered forms.
Analysis
Structure: deuter (second) + ium (chemical element suffix)
deuter (from greek 'deuteros', meaning 'second'); ium (a latin suffix used to form names of metallic elements or other substances).
Examples
deuterium is often used as a non-radioactive tracer in chemical and biological research.
heavy water is composed of water molecules in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium.
the fusion of deuterium and tritium nuclei releases a tremendous amount of energy.