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Post by Charity on Jul 30, 2007 11:40:51 GMT -5
To Norwegian Resistance fighters during World War II, heavy water was a mysterious substance considered so perilous that they were willing, under orders from the Special Operations Executive in London, to sacrifice the lives of their countrymen in order to keep it out of Nazi hands. Learn more about heavy water—its discovery, uses, and why it remains a threat today—by clicking on the images above or simply scrolling down.—Susan K. Lewis What is it? Heavy water is a form of water with a unique atomic structure and properties coveted for the production of nuclear power and weapons. Like ordinary water—H20—each molecule of heavy water contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The difference, though, lies in the hydrogen atoms. In ordinary water, each hydrogen atom has just a single proton in its nucleus. In heavy water, each hydrogen atom is indeed heavier, with a neutron as well as a proton in its nucleus. This isotope of hydrogen is called deuterium, and heavy water's more scientific name is deuterium oxide, abbreviated as D20. more www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hydro/water.html
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Post by Charity on Jul 30, 2007 11:41:37 GMT -5
With the weight of extra neutrons, heavy-water ice will sink to the bottom of a beaker filled with ordinary H20.
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Post by Charity on Jul 30, 2007 11:42:41 GMT -5
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Post by Charity on Jul 30, 2007 11:43:48 GMT -5
[edit] Iran On August 26, 2006, Iranian President Ahmadinejad inaugurated an expansion of the country's heavy-water plant near Arak. Iran has indicated that the heavy-water production facility will operate in tandem with a 40 MW research reactor that has a scheduled completion date in 2009. [5] In an interview which aired on the Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on August 27, 2006, Iranian Nuclear Chief Mohammad Sa'idi claimed that heavy water could be used to treat AIDS and cancer. Daily consumption was recommended. *"Iranian Nuclear Chief Mohammad Sa'idi Explains Why Iran Produces Heavy Water: Drinking It Helps Fight Cancer and AIDS"aired on the Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on August 27, 2006
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