tritium

[ trit-ee-uhm, trish-, trish-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

tritium

/ ˈtrɪtɪəm /

a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, occurring in trace amounts in natural hydrogen and produced in a nuclear reactor. Tritiated compounds are used as tracers. Symbol: T or ³H; half-life: 12.5 years

tritium

/ trĭt′ē-əm,trĭsh′ē-əm /

A radioactive isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus has one proton and two neutrons with atomic mass of about 3 and a half life of 12.5 years. Tritium is rare in nature but can be made artificially in nuclear reactions. It is used in thermonuclear weapons and luminescent paints, and sometimes as a tracer.
See more at hydrogen

Origin of tritium¹

1930–35; < New Latin < Greek trít ( os ) third ( tri- tri- + -tos adj. suffix) + New Latin -ium -ium

Origin of tritium¹

C20: New Latin, from Greek tritos third

Wanted to trade all the tritium we'd need to blow up a planet just for trees; because they worshipped trees!

Another kind, which can be made in a nuclear reactor, is called tritium.

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