GK
NUCLEAR SCIENCE
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Uranium-238
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Thorium-233
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Plutonium-239
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None of these
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Detailed explanation-1: -Which of the following is not a naturally occurring nuclear fuel? Explanation: Plutonium-239 is an artificial nuclear fuel.
Detailed explanation-2: -Plutonium is the principal fuel in a fast neutron reactor, and in any reactor it is progressively bred from non-fissile U-238 that comprises over 99% of natural uranium. Plutonium has occurred naturally, but except for trace quantities it is not now found in the Earth’s crust.
Detailed explanation-3: -Plutonium-239 is primarily used as a fuel to power nuclear reactors. In fact, it enters into the composition of MOX fuel – mixed uranium and plutonium oxide. By combining the Pu 239 produced by nuclear reactors with depleted uranium, MOX can be used to fabricate one new fuel assembly from every 8 used fuel assemblies.
Detailed explanation-4: -Uranium-235 is the only naturally-occurring material which can sustain a fission chain reaction, releasing large amounts of energy. While nuclear power is the predominant use of uranium, heat from nuclear fission can be used for industrial processes.
Detailed explanation-5: -Capture of neutrons lead to the formation of Plutonium-239, this is known as fertile isotope. As you can see that uranium-238 contributes in the operation of nuclear reactions and hence is a good nuclear fuel.