Q. Consider the following:
- Uranium
- Thorium
- Plutonium
Which of the above is / are considered fissile materials used in nuclear reactors?
Answer:
1 and 3
Notes: Uranium:
- Uranium-235 is a naturally occurring fissile material widely used in nuclear reactors.
- Enriched uranium containing a higher percentage of Uranium-235 is a critical fuel for most nuclear reactors.
Thorium:
- Thorium-232 is not a fissile material; it is a fertile material.
- It can be converted into fissile Uranium-233 through neutron absorption and subsequent nuclear reactions, making it an important resource in advanced nuclear reactors but not directly fissile.
Plutonium:
- Plutonium-239 is a fissile material used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
- It is produced in reactors from Uranium-238 through neutron capture and subsequent decay.