Deuterium and tritium

Tritium (³T) and Deuterium (²D) are heavier isotopes of hydrogen. The former is stable and makes up about 0.015% of all normal hydrogen. Its chemical and physical properties are little different from those of the light isotope ₁H. For instance, in the electrolysis of water H is developed faster and this permits quite pure D₂ to be prepared. Tritium is a radioactive β-emitter with a half-life of 12.35 years, and is complete when some elements are bombarded with neutrons. Both isotopes are employed for research purposes. They also go through very exothermic nuclear fusion reactions, that form the basis for thermonuclear weapons ('hydrogen bombs') and could probably be employed as a future energy source.