Deuterium in Well Water: Is It Different from Sea Water?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the abundance of deuterium in well water compared to seawater, exploring whether there are significant differences in deuterium content due to natural processes and local variations. The scope includes theoretical considerations of isotopic abundance and the hydrological cycle.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that deuterium is present at a ratio of 1 in 6194 hydrogen molecules in seawater, while questioning if well water has a different ratio.
  • One participant clarifies that the intended ratio was 1 in 6194 molecules of hydrogen, not 6194k.
  • Another participant suggests that the deuterium abundance in well water should be similar to that in seawater due to the cycling of water through various bodies, including evaporation and precipitation.
  • It is mentioned that the abundance of deuterium can vary locally, referencing a Wikipedia article that discusses variations in natural water types.
  • Participants discuss the fractionation of isotopes during evaporation and precipitation, indicating that the deuterium content can differ between vapor and liquid states.
  • One participant asserts that the ratio of deuterium should be similar across oceans, clouds, and groundwater, while another challenges this by stating that HDO is heavier than H2O and affects hydrogen bonding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the deuterium content in well water is equivalent to that in seawater, with some suggesting similarity due to hydrological processes, while others highlight the potential for local variations and the effects of isotope fractionation.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specific local variations in deuterium abundance and the implications of isotope fractionation on the comparison between different water sources.

MattMaxwell
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I think I read that Deuterium was 1 in 6194k hydrogen molecules in SEA water. Is there a difference in the water I pump in my well water at home? Just curious because it seems well mixed.
 
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I intended 1 in 6194 molecules of hydrogen, as appose to 1 in 6194k molecules. Oops
 
MattMaxwell said:
I think I read that Deuterium was 1 in 6194k hydrogen molecules in SEA water. Is there a difference in the water I pump in my well water at home? Just curious because it seems well mixed.
Are you asking if the deuterium abundance in one's well water is the same or different from seawater?

The probably should be close given that groundwater, water in streams and rivers, and water in lakes and oceans cycle through each other. Water evaporates from bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. and precipitates as rain. The rain falls over the aforementioned bodies of water as well as on land. Water on land drains into streams, lakes and rivers, and into groundwater reservoirs or aquifers. The deuterium is well mixed.

The Wikipedia article on deuterium indicates that the abundance may vary locally. "The abundance of deuterium changes slightly from one kind of natural water to another (see Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water)." from the introduction at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterium
See also - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterium#Abundance
 
Astronuc said:
Water evaporates from bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. and precipitates as rain.

And the isotopes are fractionated. The vapour that evaporates from bodies of water has different deuterium content than water left behind in the body. The water precipitated as rain has different deuterium content than vapour left behind in air.
 
snorkack said:
And the isotopes are fractionated.
Yes, but the ratio is 1 D atom per 6419 or 6420 atoms, and the atoms are usually combined as in HDO. The ratio should be much the same in ocean, clouds, groundwater.
 
Last edited:
Astronuc said:
and the atoms are usually combined as in HDO. The ratio should be much the same in ocean, clouds, groundwater.
It isn´t. HDO is heavier than H2O, and more importantly gives one stronger hydrogen bond.
 

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