The benefits of this decay is a bright display that can easily be read. Tritium when encapsulated in watches, exit signs, aircraft gauges and other applications, will glow for up to 25 years. The chemical symbol for hydrogen is H. The radioactive decay of tritium is not dangerous to man in these applications because it emits a very weak beta particle that can be stopped by even a piece of paper. Since the tritium is encapsulated in small packets made of glass or plastic, radiation doesn't reach the skin.

This means that 1/2 of the original amount will decay in 12-1/2 years. Tritium, symbol H3, occurs naturally in the atmosphere from the reaction of cosmic rays and air molecules. Tritium has a half-life of about 12-1/2 years. It is very useful for watch dials and other displays that can be waldon at night. Tritium is composed of an atom of hydrogen with one proton and 2 neutrons giving it an atomic weight of 3.

While this half life is relatively brief in the world of radioactive materials, this gives tritium some useful properties. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of the element hydrogen. It is also produced in nuclear reactors during production of electricity.

Tritium Watches - They Glow in the Dark Tritium is both naturally occurring and man-made.