Quiz Champion

Deuterium is an isotope of which element?

  • Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen
  • Helium
  • Neon
Explanation

Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen. It is so named because it contains one proton and one neutron in its nucleus, whereas the most common isotope of hydrogen, called protium, has just one proton and no neutrons. Deuterium behaves in a similar manner to hydrogen in many chemical reactions but its heavier mass can sometimes lead to subtle differences in behavior.