Question

Identify the silver-white, lustrous, radioactive metal utilized as fuel in nuclear power plants and atomic warheads.

Options:
A) Uranium
B) Plutonium
C) Thorium
D) Radium

Answer 1

The silver-white, lustrous, radioactive metal utilized as fuel in nuclear power plants and atomic warheads is B) Plutonium.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plutonium, with the atomic number 94 and symbol Pu, is a transuranic radioactive element. It is a key component in the production of nuclear energy and weapons. Plutonium-239, a fissile isotope of plutonium, is commonly used in both nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.

In nuclear power plants, plutonium undergoes fission reactions, releasing a significant amount of energy. The equation for the fission of plutonium-239 can be represented as follows:

94

239

Pu

+

0

1

n

→

54

140

Xe

+

40

94

Zr

+

2

0

1

n

+

Energy

94

239

​

Pu+

0

1

​

n→

54

140

​

Xe+

40

94

​

Zr+2

0

1

​

n+Energy

This reaction illustrates the splitting of a plutonium-239 nucleus by a neutron, resulting in the release of energy along with other nuclear byproducts. The produced energy is harnessed to generate electricity in nuclear power plants.

Moreover, plutonium-239 is employed in the production of atomic warheads. The critical mass needed for a sustained nuclear explosion is achieved by compressing a sub-critical mass of plutonium using conventional explosives. This triggers a chain reaction, leading to a powerful release of energy characteristic of nuclear detonations.

Answer 2

Uranium is the radioactive metal used in nuclear reactors and weaponry. It requires enrichment to increase its fissionable U-235 isotope for these purposes. Spent uranium fuel rods exhibit high radioactivity and contain various transuranium elements.

Thus option A) Uranium is correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The silver-white, lustrous, radioactive metal used as fuel in nuclear power plants and atomic warheads is Uranium. Uranium falls under the category of inner transition metals and is part of the actinide series.

It has two primary isotopes: U-238 and U-235, with U-235 being the one commonly used for nuclear fission, as it is fissionable. The process of enriching Uranium to increase the proportion of U-235 relative to U-238 is necessary for its use in nuclear reactors or weapons.

Once uranium is mined and processed, it is formed into fuel rods and placed into a reactor core to generate electricity. The spent fuel rods become highly radioactive due to a range of products, including transuranium elements such as plutonium and americium, which require extensive decay time to reach safe levels.

Thus option A) Uranium is correct answer.