The production of plutonium material occurs via________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: B. by neutron irradiation of Uz
Explanation
Plutonium is not found in significant quantities naturally on Earth and must be manufactured. Irradiating uranium-238 with neutrons inside a nuclear reactor produces plutonium through transmutation. The fertile uranium absorbs a neutron and undergoes beta decay to form plutonium-239. Uranium-238 captures thermal neutrons to become uranium-239, which quickly decays into neptunium-239. Neptunium-239 subsequently undergoes further beta decay to yield stable plutonium-239 isotopes. Nuclear production reactors are specifically designed to optimize this fuel breeding and irradiation process.
Plutonium serves as a potent fissile material for advanced nuclear reactors and defense applications. Spent nuclear fuel reprocessing involves extracting this manufactured plutonium from unused uranium isotopes. Strict international safeguards monitor plutonium production to prevent unauthorized military proliferation. Option A is incorrect because plutonium is a synthesized product rather than a basic raw material. Option C is wrong because thorium produces uranium-233 rather than plutonium isotopes upon irradiation. Option D and E are vague or incorrect descriptions of the nuclear transmutation process.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Mechanical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
Related questions
Q1. A pressurized water reactor incorporates a dedicated pressurizer for what operational purpose________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: A. to maintain constant pressure in primary circuit under varying load
A pressurized water reactor uses a dedicated pressurizer connected directly to the primary coolant loop. Electric heaters and water sprays inside the pressurizer regulate system pressure precisely. This maintains constan...
Q2. Plutonium-239 is artificially synthesized through__________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: B. by neutron irradiation of IT*
Plutonium-239 is synthesized inside nuclear reactors by exposing uranium-238 targets to intense neutron radiation. Uranium-238 absorbs a neutron to become uranium-239 which subsequently decays into plutonium through beta...
Q3. A pressurized water reactor is engineered to function such that________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: D. to prevent the water coolant from boiling in the core
Pressurized water reactors maintain high operating pressure in the primary loop specifically to prevent bulk boiling in the core. Pressurizers utilize electric heaters and water sprays to keep the primary coolant liquid...
Q4. The radioactive half-life of an isotope defines the duration necessary for what fraction of its quantity to undergo decay__________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: E. atom
Radioactive half-life measures the specific duration required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. The decay process transforms unstable atomic nuclei into stable or different radioactive daughter isot...
Q5. Man-made radioactive isotopes find practical application in fields such as________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: E. medical field
Man-made radioactive isotopes are produced in nuclear reactors for diverse practical applications. The medical field utilizes these radioisotopes extensively for diagnostic imaging procedures. Radiation therapy also empl...
Q6. Solid nuclear reactor fuels are commonly manufactured into compact geometric shapes such as___________________?
Show answer Hide answer
Answer: D. any one of the above
Solid nuclear fuels are manufactured into multiple geometric forms like cylindrical pellets, plates, and pins. These diverse shapes accommodate different reactor core designs, cooling requirements, and power output targe...