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Chapter 21: Problem 56

What is meant by enriched uranium? How is enriched uranium different from natural uranium?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Enriched uranium is a type of uranium with an increased concentration of the isotope uranium-235 (\(^{235}\textrm{U}\)), making it more reactive and suitable for specific applications like commercial nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Natural uranium, on the other hand, is a mixture of uranium isotopes found in nature, with uranium-238 (\(^{238}\textrm{U}\)) making up about 99.3% and uranium-235 (\(^{235}\textrm{U}\)) only making up 0.7%. The primary difference between enriched and natural uranium is their isotopic composition, and consequently, their applications.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Enriched Uranium

Enriched uranium is a type of uranium in which the percentage of the isotope uranium-235 (\(^{235}\textrm{U}\)) has been increased through a process called isotope separation. In this process, the concentration of uranium-235, the more reactive and fissile isotope, is increased from its natural occurrence in the uranium ore.
02

Definition of Natural Uranium

Natural uranium is a mixture of uranium isotopes found in nature. The main isotopes of uranium found in nature are uranium-238 (\(^{238}\textrm{U}\)) and uranium-235 (\(^{235}\textrm{U}\)). In natural uranium, uranium-238 makes up about 99.3% of the total mass, and uranium-235 makes up about 0.7%.
03

Difference in Isotopic Composition

The primary difference between enriched and natural uranium is their isotopic composition. In enriched uranium, the percentage of uranium-235 is intentionally increased, which makes it more reactive and suitable for specific uses like nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons. Depending on the intended application, the enrichment level can vary. Usually, for commercial nuclear power plants, reactor-grade enriched uranium has a concentration of uranium-235 around 3% to 5%, whereas weapons-grade enriched uranium has a concentration greater than 90%.
04

Difference in Applications

Natural uranium has limited applications due to its low concentration of uranium-235. It can be used as fuel in some types of heavy water reactors. However, enriched uranium is required for most commercial light water reactors to achieve a sustainable nuclear chain reaction. Moreover, enriched uranium with a very high concentration of uranium-235 (typically more than 90%) is used for the production of nuclear weapons. In summary, enriched uranium differs from natural uranium in its isotopic composition, with a higher concentration of uranium-235, making it more suitable for specific applications like commercial nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The thermite reaction, \(\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}(s)+2 \mathrm{Al}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{Fe}(s)+\) \(\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}(s), \Delta H^{\circ}=-851.5 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol},\) is one of the most exother-mic reactions known. Because the heat released is sufficient to melt the iron product, the reaction is used to weld metal under the ocean. How much heat is released per mole of \(\mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}\) produced? How does this amount of thermal energy compare with the energy released when 2 mol of protons and 2 mol of neutrons combine to form 1 mol of alpha particles?

Indicate the number of protons and neutrons in the following nuclei: (a) \({ }_{52}^{124} \mathrm{Te},(\mathbf{b}){ }^{37} \mathrm{Cl},(\mathrm{c})\) thorium- \(232 .\)

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

Nuclear scientists have synthesized approximately 1600 nuclei not known in nature. More might be discovered with heavyion bombardment using high-energy particle accelerators. Complete and balance the following reactions, which involve heavy-ion bombardments: (a) \({ }_{3}^{6} \mathrm{Li}+{ }_{28}^{56} \mathrm{Ni} \longrightarrow\) ? (b) \({ }_{20}^{40} \mathrm{Ca}+{ }_{96}^{248} \mathrm{Cm} \longrightarrow{ }_{62}^{147} \mathrm{Sm}+?\) (c) \({ }_{38}^{88} \mathrm{Sr}+{ }_{36}^{84} \mathrm{Kr} \longrightarrow{ }_{46}^{116} \mathrm{Pd}+?\) (d) \({ }_{20}^{40} \mathrm{Ca}+{ }_{92}^{238} \mathrm{U} \longrightarrow{ }_{30}^{70} \mathrm{Zn}+4{ }_{0}^{1} \mathrm{n}+2 ?\)

Chlorine has two stable nuclides, \({ }^{35} \mathrm{Cl}\) and \({ }^{37} \mathrm{Cl}\). In contrast, \({ }^{36} \mathrm{Cl}\) is a radioactive nuclide that decays by beta emission. (a) What is the product of decay of \({ }^{36} \mathrm{Cl} ?\) (b) Based on the empirical rules about nuclear stability, explain why the nucleus of \({ }^{36} \mathrm{Cl}\) is less stable than either \({ }^{35} \mathrm{Cl}\) or \({ }^{37} \mathrm{Cl}\).
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