Heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide (D₂O), occurs naturally in small amounts.
It's found in all natural water sources, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. However, the concentration is extremely low – only about 1 in 3,200 water molecules is heavy water.
This means that for every 3,200 molecules of regular water (H₂O), there is only one molecule of heavy water (D₂O).
The concentration of heavy water can vary slightly depending on the source. For example, water from glaciers tends to have a slightly higher concentration of heavy water than ocean water.
Heavy water is also found in other natural sources, such as plants and animals, but in even lower concentrations.
Despite its low abundance, heavy water plays an important role in various scientific and industrial applications, including nuclear reactors and medical research.
