Deuteration is a process in which hydrogen atoms in a molecule are replaced with deuterium atoms. Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen that contains a proton, a neutron, and an electron. This process is often used in chemistry and biochemistry research to study the behavior and structure of molecules, as deuterium atoms have slightly different properties than hydrogen atoms. Deuteration can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of chemical reactions, protein folding, and other molecular processes. It is commonly used in studies involving nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and neutron scattering.