In chemistry, relating to a molecule containing more than one type of atom in its atomic nucleus, or containing nuclei of different elements.
From Greek hetero- (different) and Latin nuclearis (relating to nucleus), used in chemistry to describe molecules with atoms from different elements.
A water molecule (H₂O) is heteronuclear because it has hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom—that mixing of different elements is what makes water so special and different from a molecule like oxygen gas (O₂) which is homonuclear!
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