"3H" redirects here. For other uses, see 3H (disambiguation).
Tritium, 3H
General
Symbol
3H
Names
tritium, 3H, H-3, hydrogen-3, T, 3T
Protons (Z)
1
Neutrons (N)
2
Nuclide data
Natural abundance
10−18 in hydrogen[1]
Half-life (t1/2)
12.32 years
Isotope mass
3.01604928 Da
Spin
1/2
Excess energy
14949.794±0.001 keV
Binding energy
8481.7963±0.0009 keV
Decay products
3He
Decay modes
Decay mode
Decay energy (MeV)
Beta emission
0.018590
Isotopes of hydrogen Complete table of nuclides
Tritium (from Ancient Greek τρίτος (trítos) 'third') or hydrogen-3 (symbol T or 3H) is a rare and radioactive isotope of hydrogen with half-life ~12.3 years. The nucleus of tritium (t, sometimes called a triton) contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of the common isotope hydrogen-1 (protium) contains one proton and zero neutrons, and that of a non-radioactive hydrogen-2 (deuterium) contains one proton and one neutron.
Naturally occurring tritium is extremely rare on Earth. The atmosphere has only trace amounts, formed by the interaction of its gases with cosmic rays. It can be produced artificially by irradiation of lithium metal or lithium-bearing ceramic pebbles in a nuclear reactor and is a low-abundance byproduct in normal operations of nuclear reactors.
Tritium is used as the energy source in radioluminescent lights for watches, night sights for firearms, numerous instruments and tools, and even novelty items such as self-illuminating key chains. It is used in a medical and scientific setting as a radioactive tracer. Tritium is also used as a nuclear fusion fuel, along with more abundant deuterium, in tokamak reactors and in hydrogen bombs.
Tritium (from Ancient Greek τρίτος (trítos) 'third') or hydrogen-3 (symbol T or 3H) is a rare and radioactive isotope of hydrogen with half-life ~12.3...
and the 3 H (or hydrogen-3) isotope is tritium. The symbols D and T are sometimes used for deuterium and tritium. The IUPAC accepts the D and T symbols...
Tritium radioluminescence is the use of gaseous tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, to create visible light. Tritium emits electrons through beta...
denser but lacks unique properties. Tritiated water is radioactive due to tritium content. Heavy water (D 2O) has different physical properties than regular...
fusion reactors generally use heavy hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium (and especially a mixture of the two), which react more easily than protium...
inhaled. Since tritium is a gas, if a tritium tube breaks, the gas dissipates in the air and is diluted to safe concentrations. Tritium has a half-life...
which the usual protium atoms are replaced with tritium atoms. In its pure form it may be called tritium oxide (T2O or 3H2O) or super-heavy water. Pure...
plants. ITER will be testing tritium breeding blanket technology that would allow a future fusion reactor to create its own tritium and thus be self-sufficient...
to become deuterium, and then some become radioactive tritium. Water contaminated with tritium sometimes leaks to groundwater by accident or by official...
phosphor, and filled with tritium. They are known under many names – e.g. gaseous tritium light source (GTLS), traser, betalight. Tritium light sources are most...
Emmer wheat or hulled wheat is a type of awned wheat. Emmer is a tetraploid (4n = 4x = 28 chromosomes). The domesticated types are Triticum turgidum subsp...
ingested, or absorbed tritium is 10–12 days. Tritium is generated in the fuel of all reactors; CANDU reactors generate tritium also in their coolant and...
38% and 13%, respectively. Fusion boosting is achieved by introducing tritium and deuterium gas. Solid lithium deuteride-tritide has also been used in...
is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei, usually deuterium and tritium (hydrogen isotopes), combine to form one or more different atomic nuclei...
KATRIN is a German acronym (Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment) for an undertaking to measure the mass of the electron antineutrino with sub-eV precision...
for example, can be studied by creating a tritium derivative of the desired organic compound. Decay of tritium to 3He+ followed by its extraction of a hydrogen...
The tritium breeding blanket (also known as a fusion blanket, lithium blanket or simply blanket), is a key part of many proposed fusion reactor designs...
Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux, or SUSAT, is a 4× telescopic sight, with tritium-powered illumination utilised at dusk or dawn. The full name of the current...
accelerating either deuterium, tritium, or a mixture of these two isotopes into a metal hydride target which also contains deuterium, tritium or a mixture of these...
Tritium Calcio 1908 is an Italian association football club located in Trezzo sull'Adda, Lombardy, currently playing in Serie D. The noun Tritium comes...
material tritium (3 1H ) and a combination of phosphors. The U.S. M-1950 equipped with self-luminous lighting contains 120 mCi (millicuries) of tritium. The...
Mondaine and based in San Rafael, California. Luminox watches contain tritium inserts, providing long-term luminescence. Luminox Watch Company is a U...
An exotic atom is an otherwise normal atom in which one or more sub-atomic particles have been replaced by other particles of the same charge. For example...
firearm magazines, tritium knives, and other tritium light source integration services. The company provides development assistance in tritium (self-luminous)...
of the news reports, it was unknown both how much tritium had entered the river and how the tritium had collected in the standing water, given that Unit...
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