The temperature at which heavy water (D₂O) has maximum density is approximately 11.6°C.
Heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide, exhibits similar but distinct properties compared to regular water (H₂O). One notable difference is its maximum density point. Regular water reaches its maximum density at around 4°C, while heavy water does so at a higher temperature. This is due to the increased mass of deuterium (²H) compared to protium (¹H), which affects the vibrational and intermolecular forces within the liquid. The stronger hydrogen bonding in heavy water also influences its density characteristics.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:
- Heavy Water (D₂O): Chemically similar to ordinary water but with deuterium atoms in place of hydrogen atoms.
- Maximum Density: The temperature at which a substance reaches its highest density before decreasing as temperature increases further.
- Difference from Regular Water: Heavy water's maximum density occurs at a higher temperature (11.6°C) than regular water (4°C).
- Density Comparison: Heavy water is about 11% denser than regular water in its pure form.
The precise temperature might vary slightly depending on the purity of the heavy water, but 11.6°C is a commonly accepted and widely cited value.
