What is the Difference Between Deuteron and Triton?

The main difference between a deuteron and a triton lies in their composition and stability.

• Deuteron: The deuteron is the nucleus of deuterium, which is an isotope of hydrogen. It consists of a proton and a neutron, and has an atomic mass of 2. Deuterium is stable and is one of the three major isotopes of hydrogen, along with protium and tritium.
• Triton: The triton is the nucleus of tritium, another isotope of hydrogen. It consists of a proton and two neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 3. Unlike deuterium, tritium is unstable and decays into ³He, accompanied by the emission of an electron and an antineutrino, with a half-life of 12.33 years.

In summary:

• Deuteron is the stable nucleus of deuterium, consisting of a proton and a neutron.
• Triton is the unstable nucleus of tritium, consisting of a proton and two neutrons.

Comparative Table: Deuteron vs Triton

The main difference between a deuteron and a triton is that a deuteron is the nucleus of deuterium, while a triton is the nucleus of tritium. Both deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen, but they differ in the number of neutrons in their nuclei and their stability. Here is a table comparing the two:

Key points:

• Deuteron is the nucleus of deuterium, which has one proton, one neutron, and an electron, resulting in an atomic mass of 2.
• Triton is the nucleus of tritium, which has one proton and two neutrons, resulting in an atomic mass of 3.
• Deuteron is a stable isotope of hydrogen, while triton is an unstable isotope.