Tritium - preparation, Properties, Uses

Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. It has the simplest electronic configuration 1s¹. It contains one proton in the nucleus and one electron.

Isotopes:- Atoms of the same element having same atomic number but different mass number are called isotopes.

            There are three isotopes for hydrogen with mass numbers 1, 2 and 3, each possessing an atomic number of one.

            Tritium, ₁H³ or ₁T³: It occurs in the upper atmosphere only where it is continuously formed by nuclear reactions induced by cosmic rays. Unlike deuterium, it is radioactive, with a half-life of ~ 12.3 years. It's nucleus consists of one proton and two neutrons.

Tritium 1H³: It is a rare isotope of hydrogen. Its traces are found in nature due to nuclear reactions induced by cosmic rays.

Tritium is prepared by

i)  By bombarding lithium with slow neutrons

₃Li⁶ + _on^{1 -- >} ₁T³  + ₂He⁴

ii) By bombarding beryllium with deuterons

₄Be⁹ + ₁D^{2 -- >} ₁T³ + ₄Be⁸

₄Be⁹ + ₁D^{2 -- >} ₁T³ + 2 ₂He⁴

Properties : It is radioactive with a half-life of 12.4 years. It decays into helium -3 with the emission of beta radiation.

₁T^{3  -à ß-}  ₂He³ + _-1e^o

Uses

         It is used as a radioactive tracer in chemical research.

It is used in nuclear fusion reactions.