← all shorts

Concept

kinetic isotope effect

The kinetic isotope effect refers to the change in the rate of a chemical reaction when an atom in a molecule is replaced by one of its isotopes. In the case of hydrogen and deuterium, the effect is particularly pronounced because the mass doubles. The heavier isotope forms stronger chemical bonds and moves more slowly, which can significantly inhibit biochemical processes. This effect is the primary reason why heavy water is toxic to complex organisms.

Mentioned in 1 article