Question

Naturally occurring uranium ore must be enriched to undergo a chain reaction. In the enrichment process, which increases in percentage?

Uranium-238

Plutonium-239

Uranium-233

Uranium-235

Uranium-239

Answer 1

Hello!!!

As we know that uranium exists in several isotopes such as ²³⁸U, ²³³U, ²³⁵U etc. Out of all the available isotopes, only ²³⁵U can be used in nuclear fission reaction. But, the main problem encountered in this process is that ²³⁵U is very less abundant i.e. only 0.711% of all the available uranium on earth's crust. Thus, we carry out a process called "Uranium enrichment" in order to increase the percentage of ²³⁵U in the naturally available uranium.

Thus, the correct answer is Uranium-235 (option-4)

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