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Is Uranium 238 a good nuclear fuel?

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Anonymous

14y ago
Updated: 8/19/2019

No, because it does not fission like U-235 does. However it does transmute under neutron irradiation to plutonium, which if separated out can then be used in fuel, this is called MOX or mixed oxide fuel, and is part U-235, part Pu-239 in oxide form.

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Wiki User

14y ago

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Related Questions

What is good nuclear fuel?

uranium-238


Why is uranium 238 not used as fuel?

Uranium-238 is a fertile nuclear material that is useful in producing fissile material (Plutonium 239)


What is the main use of Uranium-238?

The main use of Uranium-238 is as a fuel in nuclear reactors to generate electricity through nuclear fission. It is not used for nuclear weapons as its fissionability is limited, but it plays a crucial role in sustaining nuclear power generation.


What are the differences between uranium-235 and uranium-238 in terms of their nuclear properties and applications?

Uranium-235 and uranium-238 are two isotopes of uranium with different numbers of neutrons. Uranium-235 is used in nuclear reactors and weapons due to its ability to sustain a nuclear chain reaction, while uranium-238 is mainly used in depleted uranium ammunition and as a source of fuel for nuclear reactors. The main difference between the two isotopes is their nuclear properties and applications.


Are Isotopes of uranium are the most common fuel used in nuclear power plants?

Natural uranium is mostly U-238, with only 0.7% U-235 which is the fissile isotope. In reactors of the PWR and BWR types, the proportion of U-235 is increased to about 5% by enrichment, either gaseous diffusion or in centrifuges.


Is nuclear power same as uranium?

No, nuclear power and uranium are not the same. Nuclear power is a form of energy that is generated through nuclear reactions, while uranium is a radioactive element that is commonly used as fuel in nuclear power plants. Uranium is not the only fuel source for nuclear power, but it is the most commonly used.


Is u238 used at nuclear power plants?

Uranium-238 (U-238) is not directly used as fuel in most nuclear power plants, which primarily use uranium-235 (U-235) for fission reactions. However, U-238 plays a significant role in the nuclear fuel cycle; it can absorb neutrons and undergo a process called breeding, where it is converted into plutonium-239 (Pu-239), which can then be used as fuel. Additionally, U-238 is commonly found in natural uranium, making up about 99.3% of it.


What is the element mined to be the fuel in nuclear reactors?

We mine uranium for use as a nuclear fuel. The uranium is separated from ore, and may undergo enrichment to separate out the lighter U-235 nuclide from the heavier U-238 one.


How is uranium 235 and uranium 238 similar?

Uranium-235 and uranium-238 are natural, radioactive isotopes of uranium; they have 92 protons and electrons but the number of neutrons is different: - for 235U: 143 - for 238U: 146


Do fuel rods for nuclear reactors contain two isotopes of uranium?

They contain U-235 and U-238


What are the similarities and differences between the isotopes uranium 235 and uranium 238?

Similarities: Both uranium-235 and uranium-238 are isotopes of uranium, meaning they have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They are both radioactive and can undergo nuclear fission. Differences: Uranium-235 is the primary isotope used for nuclear fuel and weapons due to its higher susceptibility to fission compared to uranium-238. Uranium-238 is more abundant in nature, constituting over 99% of natural uranium, while uranium-235 is less common.


What element uses breeder reactor uranium or plutonium?

A breeder reactor uses uranium-238 or plutonium-239 as fuel. These elements can undergo fission reactions and produce additional fuel as a byproduct, making breeder reactors efficient in generating more nuclear fuel than they consume.