Heavy water () differs from ordinary water () in several key physical constants due to the increased — Hydrogen Chemistry Question
Question
Heavy water ($D_2O$) differs from ordinary water ($H_2O$) in several key physical constants due to the increased mass of the deuterium isotope. Which of the following comparisons correctly highlights these differences at standard atmospheric pressure?
Answer: B
💡 Solution & Explanation
Due to the heavier isotopic mass, $D_2O$ exhibits stronger intermolecular associations, raising its boiling point to $101.4^\circ C$ and freezing point to $3.8^\circ C$. However, its dielectric constant ($78.06$) is slightly lower than that of ordinary water ($78.39$), making it a marginally poorer solvent for ionic compounds.
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