Scientists used radioactive hydrogen to make water. They grew plants using the radioactive water. What happened to the radioactive hydrogen during photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O ==> C6H12O6 + 6O2
The radioactive hydrogen in the water is incorporated into the glucose formed during photosynthesis.
You may be asking about the radioactive 1H3. It decays to He via the following reaction. 1H3 ==> -1e0 + 2He3
The half-life of 1H3 or T is 12.3 years.
Hm. Ty. This is well appreciated.
During photosynthesis, the plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, which is a sugar molecule that serves as a source of energy. The process of photosynthesis involves several steps, including the absorption of light energy by chlorophyll, the conversion of that energy into chemical energy, and the production of glucose.
Now, let's focus on what happened to the radioactive hydrogen during this process. Radioactive hydrogen, also known as tritium (symbol: H-3), is a radioisotope of hydrogen that contains two neutrons and one proton in its nucleus. When the radioactive water is taken up by the plant and enters its cells, the tritium atoms become incorporated into the chemical structure of water molecules required for photosynthesis.
During photosynthesis, the plants break down water molecules to extract the hydrogen and electrons needed for the synthesis of glucose. In this process, the hydrogen atoms are separated from the water molecules and combined with carbon dioxide to produce glucose. This means that the radioactive hydrogen from the water is also used in the production of glucose.
Therefore, the radioactive hydrogen becomes part of the glucose molecule, and it is utilized by the plant for energy production and growth. The radioactive glucose can then be further metabolized by the plant or stored as a source of energy for other processes.
It is important to note that while the radioactive hydrogen is incorporated into the plant's metabolic processes, the radioactivity itself may decay over time. Tritium, for example, has a half-life of around 12.3 years, meaning half of the radioactive atoms will decay in that time.