3 ms·
I was under the impression that the difference in mass results in slowing down metabolic processes (mainly because it takes more energy per unit time to move a
by shadowgovt 3y ago
I was under the impression that the difference in mass results in slowing down metabolic processes (mainly because it takes more energy per unit time to move a more massive molecule). I wouldn't expect the hydrogen bond strength to be affected because hydrogen bonds are electromagnetic bonds, and the electromagnetic properties of deuterium and (H1) water are the same (other than the mass-effected ones; heavy hydrogen in an electric field will accelerate more slowly than light hydrogen, but that's because it's more massive, not because it's more weakly coupled to the electric field).
- causi 3y agoHeavy water hydrogen bonds are a couple percent stronger because the molecules themselves are very slightly smaller. Smaller molecules result in a shorter range of vibration at a given temperature, hence less inherent "fighting" of the hydrogen bond.