Table of Contents
- 1 Is U-235 and U-238 an isotope?
- 2 What is the symbol for uranium-238?
- 3 Why is U-235 used instead of U-238?
- 4 What ratio of U-235 to U-238 would you want?
- 5 What is the symbol for uranium-235?
- 6 How do you write uranium-235 as an isotope?
- 7 Which is more radioactive U-235 or U 238?
- 8 How Can U-235 and U 238 be separated?
- 9 How is Pu-238 different from other radioactive materials?
- 10 Why was Pu-238 used in the Manhattan Project?
Is U-235 and U-238 an isotope?
Uranium found in nature consists largely of two isotopes, U-235 and U-238. The production of energy in nuclear reactors is from the ‘fission’ or splitting of the U-235 atoms, a process which releases energy in the form of heat. U-235 is the main fissile isotope of uranium.
What is the symbol for uranium-238?
238U
Uranium-238
| General | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | 238U |
| Names | uranium-238, U-238 |
| Protons | 92 |
| Neutrons | 146 |
Why is U-235 used instead of U-238?
U- 235 is a fissile isotope, meaning that it can split into smaller molecules when a lower-energy neutron is fired at it. U- 238 is a fissionable isotope, meaning that it can undergo nuclear fission, but the neutrons fired at it would need much more energy in order for fission to take place.
What is U-235 and U-238?
The difference between the three isotopes is the number of neutrons present in the nucleus. U-238 has 4 more neutrons than U-234 and three more neutrons than U-235. U-238 is more stable thus being more abundant naturally. U-235 is used as fuel in nuclear reactors and/or weapons.
Where do you find uranium 235?
Where does it come from? U-235 and U-238 occur naturally in nearly all rock, soil, and water. U-238 is the most abundant form in the environment. U-235 can be concentrated in a process called “enrichment,” making it suitable for use in nuclear reactors or weapons.
What ratio of U-235 to U-238 would you want?
The isotopic ratio of U238/U235 is 0.9928/0.0072. Based on specific activity the activity ratio is 21.5.
What is the symbol for uranium-235?
U
Uranium-235
| General | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | 235U |
| Names | uranium-235, U-235 |
| Protons | 92 |
| Neutrons | 143 |
How do you write uranium-235 as an isotope?
The symbol for uranium-235 is U, its atomic number is 92, and the mass number is 235. Its isotopic symbol is 23592U .
For what purpose U-235 is used?
Uranium “enriched” into U-235 concentrations can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants and the nuclear reactors that run naval ships and submarines. It also can be used in nuclear weapons.
What is U 239 in what ways is it different from U-238?
In what ways is it different from U-238? U-239 is an isotope of uranium. It has one more neutron in the nucleus than U-238.
Which is more radioactive U-235 or U 238?
Though uranium is highly associated with radioactivity, its rate of decay is so low that this element is actually not one of the more radioactive ones out there. Uranium-238 has a half-life of an incredible 4.5 billion years. Uranium-235 has a half-life of just over 700 million years.
How Can U-235 and U 238 be separated?
Gaseous diffusion is a technology used to produce enriched uranium by forcing gaseous uranium hexafluoride (hex) through semi-permeable membranes. This produces a slight separation between the molecules containing 235U and 238U.
How is Pu-238 different from other radioactive materials?
Pu-238 exhibits high heat density and emits primarily alpha particles, which are easily shielded; this makes it safer to handle than most other radioactive materials. High heat density and low shielding requirements both make for a lighter device. Unlike Pu-239, Pu-238 is non-fissile, so it cannot be used in nuclear power plants or nuclear weapons.
What is the nuclear equation for uranium-238 after Alpha?
During α-decay, an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle. It transforms (or decays) into an atom with an atomic number 2 less and a mass number 4 less. Thus, uranium-238 decays through α-particle emission to form thorium-234 according to the equation: #””_92^238″U” →color(white)(l) _90^234″Th” + _2^4″He”#.
How is thorium-234 produced in uranium 238?
Uranium-238 produces thorium-234 by alpha decay. An α-particle is a helium nucleus. It contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons, for a mass number of 4. During α-decay, an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle. It transforms (or decays) into an atom with an atomic number 2 less and a mass number 4 less.
Why was Pu-238 used in the Manhattan Project?
Fortunately, rapid advances in nuclear chemistry — in the U.S., an outgrowth of the World War II-era Manhattan Project that produced the first nuclear weapons — yielded an array of new radioactive materials. One of these, Pu-238, is nearly ideal for fueling RTGs.