The terms in bold link to topics in the AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA A-level specifications, as well as the IB, Pre-U and SQA exam specifications. One technique for separating isotopes prior to nuclear fission uses diffusion, another uses circular motion in a centrifuge and a third involves laser ionisation.
Natural uranium consists of a mixture of two isotopes. The lighter fissile (or splittable) 235U makes up 0.7%, with the majority (99.3%) comprising the slightly heavier isotope 238U. The three extra neutrons in 238U make it almost unsplittable. Exploiting nuclear energy by using uranium relies on the fissioning of 235U.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
