Deuterium oxide

Deuterium oxide, commonly known as heavy water and abbreviated D2O or Water-d2, is a stable isotopic variant of water in which both hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium. It carries CAS number 7789-20-0 and EC number 232-148-9, and is classified under HS code 28451000 for customs purposes.

In pharmaceutical and biotech research, D2O serves as an NMR solvent, providing a deuterium lock signal that suppresses background interference and improves spectral resolution. In life sciences, it functions as a tracer in metabolic studies, where its isotopic mass difference allows researchers to track biological pathways with precision. The electronics sector uses it in the production of optical fibres, where deuterium reduces infrared absorption losses.

D2O is available in research and industrial grades, with high-isotopic-purity specifications typically exceeding 99.9 atom% D. It is subject to REACH registration requirements within the EU. Packaging ranges from small sealed glass ampoules for laboratory use to larger containers for industrial-scale applications.