Heavy water is extensively used to synthesize deuterated compounds via exchange/hydrolysis reactions — Hydrogen Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Aluminium carbide ($Al_4C_3$) specifically yields Methane upon hydrolysis with normal water, and therefore yields Deutero-methane ($CD_4$), NOT Deutero-ethane ($C_2D_6$), upon reaction with $D_2O$. The stoichiometry is $Al_4C_3 + 12D_2O \rightarrow 4Al(OD)_3 + 3CD_4$.