Why uranium 235 is used in nuclear reactors

To put the reactor into operation, the control blades are raised very slowly. As fewer and fewer neutrons are absorbed, more and more neutrons are available to cause the splitting of uranium nuclei, until finally enough neutrons are available to sustain a chain reaction.

In the MIT reactor, one other group of components is essential to the maintaining and controlling a chain reaction. Since U nuclei do not readily absorb the high energy neutrons that are emitted during fission, it is necessary to slow the neutrons down with a "moderator". Three types of moderators are used at the MIT reactor: 1 ordinary or "light" water that is also used to cool the reactor core, 2 deuterated or heavy water D 2 0 , and 3 high-purity graphite, both of which are excellent at slowing neutrons without absorbing them.

Where does it come from? What form is it in? What does it look like? When it has been refined and enriched, uranium is a silvery-white metal. How can it hurt me? To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this. Related Pages. Contact Us Calendar Employment.

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