Question

Dihydrogen reacts with dioxygen $\left(O_2\right)$ to form water. Write the name and formula of the product when the isotope of hydrogen which has one proton and one neutron in its nucleus is treated with oxygen. Will the reactivity of both the isotopes be the same towards oxygen? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

The isotope of hydrogen which contains one proton and one neutron is deuterium (D). Thus, when dideuterium reacts with dioxygen, deuterium oxide, i.e., heavy water is produced.

$\underset{Deuterium}{2D_2\left(g\right)}+O_2\left(g\right)\stackrel{Heat}{\to }\underset{Deuteriumoxide}{2D_{2}O}$

The reactivity of $H_2$ and $D_2$ towards oxygen will be different. Since the D – D bond is stronger than H - H bond, therefore, $H_2$# is more reactive than $D_2$ towards reaction with oxygen.