Tritiated water facts for kids

Molecule of Tritiated water.

Tritiated water is a special kind of water where the usual hydrogen atoms are replaced with a different type of hydrogen called tritium. Tritium is a radioactive element, which means tritiated water is also radioactive. It's sometimes called "heavy water" or "super-heavy water," but it's important to know that "heavy water" usually refers to water with deuterium, another type of hydrogen, which is not radioactive.

What is Tritium?

Tritium is a special version of the element hydrogen. Most hydrogen atoms have just one proton in their center. Tritium atoms are different because they have one proton and two neutrons in their center. This makes them heavier than regular hydrogen. Tritium is also radioactive, which means it slowly changes over time and gives off tiny bits of energy called radiation. This process is called radioactive decay.

How is Tritiated Water Made?

Tritiated water can be found naturally in very small amounts. It forms when cosmic rays from space hit the Earth's atmosphere. However, most tritiated water is made by people in special places like nuclear reactors. In these reactors, neutrons can hit atoms of deuterium (another type of hydrogen) or lithium, turning them into tritium. Once tritium is formed, it can easily combine with oxygen to make tritiated water.

Uses of Tritiated Water

Even though it's radioactive, tritiated water has some important uses:

• Scientific Research: Scientists use tritiated water to study how water moves through the environment, like in rivers, lakes, and underground. They can also use it to understand how water moves inside plants and animals.
• Medical Tracers: In medicine, very small amounts of tritiated water can be used as a "tracer." This means doctors can follow it inside the body to see how water is distributed or how quickly it leaves the body. This helps them understand certain health conditions.
• Self-Powered Lighting: Tritium gas (not tritiated water directly, but related) is used in some glow-in-the-dark signs and watch dials. The radiation from tritium makes a special material glow, providing light without needing electricity.

Safety and Tritiated Water

Because tritiated water is radioactive, it needs to be handled carefully. When tritium decays, it releases a type of radiation called a beta particle. These particles are not very strong and can't travel far through the air or even through a sheet of paper. However, if tritiated water gets inside the body (for example, by drinking it), the tritium can spread throughout the body like regular water. Inside the body, the beta particles can affect cells.

Scientists and safety experts have rules and guidelines for how much tritiated water is safe to be around or to be released into the environment. The amount of tritium in natural water is extremely small and not harmful. When it's used in research or industry, strict safety measures are always in place to protect people and the environment.