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Most nuclear fuel for nuclear reactors in power plants is enriched uranium, though there are some plants that use "regular" uranium, like the plants using heavy water. There are also plants that use plutonium.
Research and development is being done on nuclear plants using thorium as fuel.
Surf on over to the Wikipedia articles to mine more data. You'll find links to them below.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoMost nuclear power plants use uranium-235 as their fuel, in a concentration of around 4% to 5% enrichment, in combination with uranium-238, at 96% to 95%.
A few nuclear power reactors can use plutonium or thorium as fuel.
Any element above lead and bismuth will radioactively decay but Uranium 235 (U235) is used almost exclusively for controlled nuclear fission. uranium 235 is refined and "enriched" from uranium 238 which is what about 99% of uranium found turns out to be.
In principle, any radioactive element could be used as fuel,
but almost all existing nuclear power plants get their energy from the fission of
Uranium, Plutonium, and Thorium.
Many other elements play supporting roles at nuclear power plants; see the related question "What elements are used at nuclear power plants?".
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoMost nuclear power plants run on enriched uranium. It is uranium that contains some U-238 (the most abundant natural isotope) and an artificially increased percentage of U-235.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIt is used: 1. natural uranium (metal or oxide); 2. Uranium dioxide; 3. MOX fuel (Uranium Oxide + Plutonium Oxide); 4. Plutonium Oxide; and in future 5. Thorium fue
Wiki User
∙ 15y agouranium
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoU-238
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Do most nuclear power plants use atoms to make nuclear energy?
Nuclear power plants use the heat from the radioactive decay of Uranium or other radioactive atoms to boil water and make steam to run electrical generators.
Why is it important to dispose of wastes from nuclear power plants carefully?
The wastes are radioactive and could cause cancer.
What waste problems of nuclear power plants is NOT a problem with a coal-burning power plant?
Radioactive wastes that can last thousands of years
What energy do nuclear power plants convert nuclear energy to?
Nuclear power plants convert nuclear energy to electrical.sometimes it can be used to enrich radioactive nuclei which can later used in missile warheads. But using thorium as a source of nuclear power we can't enrich nuclei but we can use for electrical power generation which might have more energy than former
Is nuclear power radioactive?
It sure is
From where radioactive wastes are produced?
By nuclear power plants
Energy is produced in nuclear power plants from the controlled fission of?
U-235 isotope. (That is, of Uranium. It is a radioactive element.) The atoms are stocked in fuel rods, and the fission begins!
Can you get power from the radioactive element Uranium?
Yes, the radioactive decay of Uranium-235 is used to produce power in nuclear power plants.
Which nuclear process occurs within nuclear power plants and produces radioactive waste materials?
Nuclear Fission
Do most nuclear power plants use atoms to make nuclear energy?
Nuclear power plants use the heat from the radioactive decay of Uranium or other radioactive atoms to boil water and make steam to run electrical generators.
Is the radioactive waste from nuclear power plants dangerous?
It contains a higher amount of radioactivity
Radioactive metal used in nuclear power plants?
I think it is uranium
What has the author Carl E Behrens written?
Carl E. Behrens has written: 'International agreement to cut off production of nuclear weapons material' -- subject(s): Nuclear nonproliferation 'Nuclear waste management' -- subject(s): Radioactive waste disposal 'Nuclear waste management' -- subject(s): Radioactive waste disposal, Government policy, Radioactive wastes, Management, Hazardous wastes 'Nuclear nonproliferation policy' -- subject(s): Nuclear nonproliferation 'Nuclear power' -- subject(s): Accidents, Nuclear power plants, Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant (Pa.) 'Enriched uranium supplies for nuclear power plants' -- subject(s): Uranium enrichment, Nuclear power plants 'The Convention on nuclear safety' -- subject(s): Convention on Nuclear Safety, Design and construction, Nuclear power plants, Safety measures
Where would you dispose the radioactive material from nuclear power plants when you run out of disposal grounds?
NIMBY
Is it possible to undo atomic or nuclear weapons once made?
Yes, nuclear weapons can be scrapped. The radioactive materials can be used in nuclear power plants.
How is waste created by nuclear power plants in the us stored?
they store it until it becomes less radioactive
Why is is important to dispose of wastes from nuclear power plants carefully?
The wastes are radioactive and could cause cancer.
