Question

One means of enriching the percentage of uranium-235 for use as nuclear fuel is _____.

Answer 1

Isotopic enrichment is a means of increasing the percentage of uranium-235 for use as nuclear fuel. This process involves separating uranium-235 from the more abundant uranium-238. Gaseous diffusion is a common method used for enrichment.

Step-by-step explanation:

One means of enriching the percentage of uranium-235 for use as nuclear fuel is through a process called isotopic enrichment. Uranium-235 is the fissionable isotope that can be used as fuel in a nuclear reactor.

However, in its natural state, uranium is mostly composed of uranium-238, which is not fissionable. The enrichment process involves increasing the concentration of uranium-235 by separating it from the more abundant uranium-238.

The most common method used for enrichment is gaseous diffusion, where uranium hexafluoride gas is passed through barriers that allow the lighter uranium-235 to diffuse faster than the heavier uranium-238.

Answer 2

Thermal diffusion

Step-by-step explanation:

Thermal diffusion uses the exchange of heat through a thin layer of liquid or gas to achieve isotope separation. In the process the uranium-235 gas molecules diffuse towards the hot surface since they are lighter, while the uranium-238 gas molecules will do so towards the colder surface.