A: Plutonium is, in fact, a metal very like uranium. If you hold it [in] your hand (and I've held tons of it my hand, a pound or two at a time), it'sheavy, like lead. It's toxic, like lead or arsenic, but not much more so. Going Nuclear Episode 7 - Plutonium Production...
Plutonium 239 is known to be fissible. If we can convert U-238 to P-239, does nuclear fuel enrichment plants equip with capabilities to convert U-238 to P-239? Otherwise, alot of U-238 will be throwned away. The energy from U-238 can be harnessed by converting it to P-239 Centri...
Neutron-heavy U-238 has a role to play in the atomic bomb as well since its neutron-heavy atoms can deflect stray neutrons, preventing an accidental chain reaction in a uranium bomb and keeping neutrons contained in a plutonium bomb. U-238 can also be "saturated" to produce plutonium (Pu-...
plutonium-239 d. deuterium What type of nuclear process requires an extremely high temperature (millions of degrees)? What is a nuclear reaction where the nucleus of the atom splits to smaller parts according to chemistry? Determine the nuclear particle that is produced in the given nuclear ...
A different kind of power plant called a fast-breeder reactor works a different way, producing its own plutonium fuel in a self-sustaining process. Its chain reaction is much closer to what happens in a nuclear bomb and it doesn't work through a moderator. That's why a fast-breeder react...
There are two types of nuclear reactions, fission and fusion. During fission the nucleus are broken apart and in fusion, they collapse one toward the other. Extremely heavy elements as uranium and plutonium are used in fission bombs and hydrogen (the lightest element) is used for fusion. ...
Pellets of plutonium dioxide release heat through natural decay. This heat is converted into electricity using a series of thermocouples. Although the power output isn't very strong, it powers the electronics and instruments on board the Voyagers for a very long time. Power isn't expected to ...