I know that U-235 and Pu-239 are the most commonly used isotopes in nuclear reactors and this sort of thing, but can -any- isotope be used, or are there only particular ones that will work?
2007-05-22 04:54:51 · 4 answers · asked by evenstar03 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Generally speaking, you need to get out more energy than you put in for something like a nuclear reactor to be economically viable. Given sufficient energy and the proper conditions, most any nucleus can be made to fission, but on an economic scale, only U-235 and Pu-239 are workable.
After WWII, an atomic bomb made from U-233 was tested, but only for research purposes. U-233 is not used in any nuclear reactors.
2007-05-22 05:01:23 · answer #1 · answered by ChemTeam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any radioactive isotope can undergo fission (Well except hydrogen considering it is only 1 proton). But some isotopes - like the ones you mentioned - are rich in energy. They can release that extra pent of energy by undergoing fission. So they are used in nuclear processes. This is called spontaneous fission reaction.
Others actually need to be supplied energy to undergo fission. These things are calculated by the nucleus' binding energy per nucleon.
2007-05-22 12:03:31 · answer #2 · answered by Ajinkya N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only isotopes of heavy elements can undergo fission
radioactive isotopes of lighter elements only radiate and connot be used to generate energy like u-235 etc
2007-05-22 12:23:36 · answer #3 · answered by karan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there are certain conditions which have to be satisfied by a fissile nucleus.
2007-05-22 12:06:25 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋