What is the most common fissionable isotope in a commercial nuclear power reactor?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The most common fissionable isotope used in commercial nuclear power reactors is uranium-235 (\(^{235}\text{U}\)).

Step by step solution

01

Identifying the most common fissionable isotope in commercial nuclear power reactors

The two most common types of commercial nuclear power reactors are Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). Both of these reactors use nuclear fuel in the form of pellets made from enriched uranium. Enriched uranium contains a higher percentage of the desired fissionable isotope, uranium-235 (\(^{235}\text{U}\)), compared to natural uranium.
02

Importance of Uranium-235

The fissionable isotope uranium-235 is used because it has a higher probability of undergoing fission when it captures a neutron compared to other isotopes, such as uranium-238 (\(^{238}\text{U}\)). Therefore, uranium-235 releases more energy during nuclear reactions and makes it the primary choice for nuclear power production.
03

Conclusion

The most common fissionable isotope used in commercial nuclear power reactors is uranium-235 (\(^{235}\text{U}\)).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A wooden artifact from a Chinese temple has a \({ }^{14} \mathrm{C}\) activity of 38.0 counts per minute as compared with an activity of 58.2 counts per minute for a standard of zero age. From the halflife for \({ }^{14} \mathrm{C}\) decay, \(5715 \mathrm{yr}\), determine the age of the artifact.

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