No physical properties are listed for "pure" semi-heavy water, because it cannot be isolated in bulk quantities. In the liquid state, a few water molecules are always in an ionized state, which means the hydrogen atoms can exchange among different oxygen atoms. A sample of hypothetical "pure" semi-heavy water would rapidly transform into a dynamic mixture of 25% light water, 25% heavy water, and 50% semi-heavy water.
and
Particularly hard-hit by heavy water are the delicate assemblies of mitotic spindle formation necessary for cell division in eukaryotes. Because eukaryotic cell division stops in heavy water, seeds therefore do not germinate in heavy water, and plants stop growing when given only heavy water. posted by b1tr0t at 3:32 PM on February 22, 2007
so: plants won't grow in pure heavy water. This shouldn't be a problem, since you can't get a stable sample of 100% heavy water. Even if you got a mixture of water and heavy water, it would be so expensive that you'd be silly to water plants with it. posted by b1tr0t at 3:33 PM on February 22, 2007
Some useful information about heavy water toxicity: here, here, here, here, and here (this seems to be the original mouse paper the others site). Based on the fact that D2O inhibits microtubule polymerization at high enough concentrations I expect it would be toxic to plants at similar levels as it is to animals. posted by pombe at 4:35 PM on February 22, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]
Semi-heavy water is I believe what the idiot Wikipedians are calling the hypothetical compound, DOH. Heavy water is D2O. posted by ikkyu2 at 5:55 PM on February 22, 2007
I would like to invite everyone here to fix that article. Please? posted by Richard Daly at 6:03 PM on February 25, 2007
« Older
Will standard welding goggles ...
| I'm looking for photo booths c...
Newer »
Subscribe
No physical properties are listed for "pure" semi-heavy water, because it cannot be isolated in bulk quantities. In the liquid state, a few water molecules are always in an ionized state, which means the hydrogen atoms can exchange among different oxygen atoms. A sample of hypothetical "pure" semi-heavy water would rapidly transform into a dynamic mixture of 25% light water, 25% heavy water, and 50% semi-heavy water.
and
Particularly hard-hit by heavy water are the delicate assemblies of mitotic spindle formation necessary for cell division in eukaryotes. Because eukaryotic cell division stops in heavy water, seeds therefore do not germinate in heavy water, and plants stop growing when given only heavy water.
posted by b1tr0t at 3:32 PM on February 22, 2007