Question

Enriched uranium used in a nuclear reactor is:

• A. uranium freed of all impurities
• B. uranium alloyed with aluminium
• C. uranium treated with radiation
• D. uranium with a high percentage of a particular isotope

Answer 1

The correct option is D uranium with a high percentage of a particular isotope

Enriched uranium used in a nuclear reactor is uranium with a high percentage of a particular isotope

Natural uranium is 99.284% 238U isotope, with 235U only constituting about 0.711% of its mass. U is the only nuclide existing in nature (in any appreciable amount) that is fissile with thermal neutrons. Enriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.

Enriching Uranium. The nuclear fuel used in a nuclear reactor needs to have a higher concentration of the U235 isotope than that which exists in natural uranium ore. U235 when concentrated (or "enriched") is fissionable in light-water reactors (the most common reactor design in the USA).