2845.10.00.00 - Heavy water (Deuterium oxide)

This category, HTS Code 2845.10.00.00, specifically classifies "Heavy water (Deuterium oxide)." Heavy water is a form of water in which the hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen. Its unique properties, particularly its ability to absorb neutrons, make it indispensable as a moderator and coolant in nuclear reactors, enabling controlled nuclear fission. This classification is situated within Chapter 28, which encompasses inorganic chemicals, and specifically under the heading for isotopes and their compounds.

The primary distinction of this category from its siblings lies in its specific chemical composition. While other categories under heading 2845 deal with isotopes of boron (enriched in boron-10), lithium (enriched in lithium-6), and helium-3, this node is exclusively for deuterium oxide. Therefore, any product that is not heavy water, even if it involves isotopes, would fall under a different subcategory within 2845.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories to introduce under 2845.10.00.00. Classification is solely based on the identification of the substance as heavy water (deuterium oxide). Practical classification criteria would involve verification of its isotopic composition through laboratory analysis or relevant certificates of origin and analysis, confirming the presence of deuterium in place of protium in the water molecule.