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Enriched uranium is uranium that has had its U-235 isotope content elevated above what it would be when we refine natural uranium after recovering the metal from ore.

We know that U-235 is the desired fissionable isotope of uranium, but it is the isotope U-238 that is present in over 99% of all the naturally occurring uranium we mine and recover. We have to put the uranium through a process to separate the U-235 from the U-238. As these two isotopes are chemically identical, it takes a mechanical process to separate them. After running the uranium through a process designed to take advantage of the difference in the mass of the two atoms, the industry will recover uranium with a very high percentage of the U-235 isotope, and this is called enriched uranium.

If uranium is enriched to a point where there is up to about 20% U-235, it is low-enriched uranium. Above that 20% mark we see highly enriched uranium. Above about 85%, we call the product weapons-grade uranium. A link can be found below for more information.

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What are the disadvantages of enriched uranium?

Disadvantages of enriched uranium:- it is very difficult to prepare- can be used for bombs- the price is prohibitive- need of a complicate and expensive technology


Does a critical mass of uranium require enriched uranium?

Yes, a critical mass of uranium typically requires enriched uranium. Enriched uranium has a higher concentration of the fissile isotope uranium-235, which is necessary for sustaining a nuclear chain reaction in a reactor or weapon. Unenriched uranium, which is mostly uranium-238, requires a larger critical mass to achieve a sustained chain reaction.


What fissile material was used for the core of the Ivy King device?

The core of the Ivy King device used Highly Enriched Uranium-235 as the fissile material.


How many tons of uranium ore are needed to make one kilo of enriched uranium?

A Wikipedia article (see link below) gives the concentration of uranium in ore as 0.01 to 0.25 percent, which is a wide range. If we take 0.1 percent as typical, then 1 tonne (1000Kg) of ore would produce 1 Kg of uranium. This is natural uranium, which is normally enriched by about six times to produce suitable enriched uranium for fuel, so you can say that about 6 tonnes of ore would be needed to give 1 Kg of enriched uranium, but there is considerable variation of this from one source of ore to another


Most nuclear power plants use what as a nuclear fuel?

Most nuclear power plants use enriched uranium as a nuclear fuel. Uranium-235 is the most commonly used isotope for nuclear fission reactions in nuclear power plants, where the uranium atoms split, releasing energy.

Related Questions

What is differentiation enriched uranium?

Enriched uranium is an uranium with more than 0,7 % uranium 235.


What are the positive enriched uranium?

- the energy released from enriched uranium is higher compared to natural uranium- the amount of uranium needed for a reactor is lower- research reactors work only with enriched uranium- atomic bombs have highly enriched uranium or plutonium


Is plutonium and enriched uranium the same thing?

Plutonium and enriched uranium are different materials.Enriched uranium is uranium with a concentration of the isotope 235U greater than the natural concentration of 0,7 %.


What element if often enriched and used in nuclear bombs?

Uranium is enriched in the isotope uranium-235, producing uranium-238 as waste.


Does CANDU reactor use enriched uranium?

CANDU Reactors are specifically designed such that they do not require enriched uranium, and can operate entirely on naturally-occurring uranium. A CANDU design is generally used by parties that do not desire uranium enrichment facilities, due to the cost of those facilities. That said, a CANDU reactor CAN use enriched uranium, they are fully capable of supporting that fuel type.


Name the element once enriched can form the core of a nuclear bomb?

Uranium hexafluoride (hex) is a compound of uranium that becomes a gas when heated. In gaseous form, it can be "enriched". Enriched uranium is needed for research reactors, most non-Canadian power reactors, and bombs.


How many moles are in a 140 grams of uranium?

divide 140 by the atomic weight of the uranium you want to know about. it will be different if you are asking about natural, enriched, or depleted uranium and how much its enriched or depleted.


What are the disadvantages of enriched uranium?

Disadvantages of enriched uranium:- it is very difficult to prepare- can be used for bombs- the price is prohibitive- need of a complicate and expensive technology


What is the Uranium bomb?

A bomb containing highly enriched uranium (in the isotope 235U) as explosive.


What is uranium - 235 when added to natural uranium?

Natural uranium has approx. 0,7 % 235U; uranium with more than 0,7 % 235U is an enriched uranium.


Does uranium need to be enriched in order to be used in a nuclear reactor?

Yes, uranium needs to be enriched in order to be used in a nuclear reactor. Enrichment increases the concentration of uranium-235, the isotope necessary for sustained nuclear reactions in most reactors. Natural uranium is primarily composed of uranium-238, which needs to be converted to uranium-235 through enrichment processes.


Does a critical mass of uranium require enriched uranium?

Yes, a critical mass of uranium typically requires enriched uranium. Enriched uranium has a higher concentration of the fissile isotope uranium-235, which is necessary for sustaining a nuclear chain reaction in a reactor or weapon. Unenriched uranium, which is mostly uranium-238, requires a larger critical mass to achieve a sustained chain reaction.