The reactions of heavy water are slow. The reason is

Options

A. Heary water is associated
B. Heavy water is dissociated
C. Heavy water is of higher mass
D. Heavy water is of lower mass

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Heavy Water**: Heavy water (D₂O) is water in which both hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and one neutron. This makes heavy water heavier than regular water (H₂O).

2. **Reaction Rates**: The rate of a chemical reaction can be influenced by the mass of the reacting species. In general, heavier isotopes tend to react more slowly than their lighter counterparts due to their greater mass.

3. **Reason for Slow Reactions**: The reactions of heavy water are slow primarily because the bonds in heavy water (D-O bonds) are stronger and require more energy to break compared to the bonds in regular water (H-O bonds). The increased mass of deuterium compared to hydrogen leads to a lower vibrational frequency of the bonds, making them less reactive.

4. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct reason for the slow reactions of heavy water is that it has a higher mass compared to regular water, which results in slower reaction rates.

**Final Answer**: The reactions of heavy water are slow because it has a higher mass, leading to stronger bonds and lower reactivity.

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