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 can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Isotopes**:
- Recognize that hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) are isotopes. Hydrogen has an atomic number of 1 and a mass number of 1, while deuterium also has an atomic number of 1 but a mass number of 2.

2. **Compare Masses**:
- Since deuterium has a greater mass than hydrogen, we can conclude that the mass of deuterium is greater than that of hydrogen.

3. **Reactivity Consideration**:
- In general, the reactivity of elements can be influenced by their mass. In the case of hydrogen and deuterium, the heavier isotope (deuterium) tends to be less reactive than the lighter isotope (hydrogen).

4. **Determine Reactivity Order**:
- The order of reactivity can be established as follows: hydrogen is more reactive than deuterium. Therefore, we can say that deuterium reacts slower than hydrogen.

5. **Evaluate Options**:
- Now, let's evaluate the provided options:
- **Option 1**: More vigorously than hydrogen - Incorrect
- **Option 2**: Faster than hydrogen - Incorrect
- **Option 3**: Slower than hydrogen - Correct
- **Option 4**: Just as hydrogen - Incorrect

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analysis, the correct answer is that deuterium reacts slower than hydrogen.

### Final Answer:
The correct option is **Option 3: Slower than hydrogen**.

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