I ask this because i just read that weapons grade has to be 95 percent but, power plant grade is only 5. Why not the other way is 95 percent closer to being plutonium? and why can't we use plutonium for power plants? all a nuclear plant is is a large steam engine right?
2007-02-01 11:25:11 · 3 answers · asked by heavyhauldad 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Atomic weapons need the uranium or plutonium enriched (more pure) in order to provide the power that delivers the explosion. Power plant uranium does not need to have this intense power. They do not enrich the uranium or plutonium for the power plants because it would be a unneeded big expense.
2007-02-01 11:37:01 · answer #1 · answered by l00k_up 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As probably you know that a nuclear reaction results in splitting of a Uranium and release of three neutron and lots of energy. The neutrons released would go and bang other uranium atoms spltting them to relase more neutrons and energy. this is a chain reaction and lots of energy is released. If there is just 3-5% uranium is present then the reaction will be dead soon and energy release will be less. if 95% uranium is present then there are more reactions and lots and lots of energy is released. That we need 95% uranium for weapons.
2007-02-01 19:38:41 · answer #2 · answered by Ali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I remember the basics right, uranium is unstable because it has an odd number of electrons. They maybe enriching it to have more electrons as triggers. The difference is a glow-in-the-dark and a megaton boom!
2007-02-01 19:36:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋