Deuterium resembles hydrogen in chemical properties but reacts

Options

A. More vigorously than hydrogen
B. Faster than hydrogen
C. Slower than hydrogen
D. Just as hydrgen

Answer

To solve the question regarding the reactivity of deuterium compared to hydrogen, we will follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Elements**:
- Recognize that deuterium (D) and hydrogen (H) are isotopes of each other. Hydrogen has one proton (protium, ¹H) and deuterium has one proton and one neutron (²H).

2. **Understand Isotopes**:
- Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This means they have different masses.

3. **Chemical Properties**:
- Both hydrogen and deuterium exhibit similar chemical properties because they have the same valence electron configuration. They can participate in similar types of chemical reactions.

4. **Physical Properties**:
- Due to the difference in mass, deuterium has different physical properties compared to hydrogen. For example, deuterium has a higher melting point, boiling point, and density than hydrogen.

5. **Reactivity**:
- The mass difference affects the rate of reaction. Generally, heavier isotopes react more slowly than their lighter counterparts due to the kinetic isotope effect. Therefore, deuterium reacts slower than hydrogen.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the understanding that deuterium resembles hydrogen in chemical properties but reacts slower due to its greater mass, we conclude that the statement in the question is correct.

### Final Answer:
Deuterium resembles hydrogen in chemical properties but reacts slower than hydrogen.