In the process of fission, two major parts are required on the atomic level, an element usually uranium 235 which has 235 protons and neutrons in its nucleus and a neutron. In a nuclear reactor the uranium used is always enriched which has an increased amount of fissionable nuclei. In the process of nuclear fission a uranium 235 molecule is split in two similar sized pieces after being hit by a neutron, after a neutron. The nucleus becomes suddenly so unstable that it splits into two major fragments and releases, on the average, two or three neutrons. Of these neutrons, at least one must succeed in producing another fission if the chain reaction is to persist. Billions of fissions will occur in a fraction of a second, thus a controlled chain reaction. I will discuss an uncontrolled chain reaction lat

Uranium, which contains about 0.7 percent uranium-235, is obtained from either surface or underground mines. The ore is concentrated by milling and then shipped to a conversion plant, where its form is changed to uranium hexafluoride gas (UF6). At an isotope enrichment plant, the gas is forced against a porous barrier that allows the lighter uranium-235 to penetrate more readily than uranium-238. This process enriches uranium to about 3 percent uranium-235. The depleted uranium-the tailings-contain about 0.3 percent uranium-235. The enriched product is sent to a fuel fabrication plant, where the UF6 gas is converted to uranium oxide powder, then into ceramic pellets that are loaded into corrosion-resistant fuel rods. These are assembled into fuel elements and are shipped to the reactor power plant. The world's supply of enriched uranium fuel for powering commercial nuclear power plants is produced by five consortiums located in the United States, Western Europe, Russia, and Japan. The United States consortium-the federally owned United States Enrichment Corporation-produces 40 percent of this enriched uranium.

As a chain reaction continues, fission products accumulate in the reactor core. Most of these fragments are extremely radioactive and emit harmful gamma rays and neutrons. Consequently, thick, heavy concrete shielding to protect operators and other people in the vicinity against radiation must surround the reactor.

92 U235 + 1 neutron = 38 Sr96 + 54 XE138 + 2 neutrons+energy

The small amount Radioactive, or nuclear, waste is the by-product the nuclear fission process. Radiation and radioactive material are attributed to tissue damage in the molecules of cellular matter. Cells can be temporally damaged or destroyed for good. The severity of the injury depends on the type of radiation, the absorbed dose, the rate at which the dose was absorbed, and the radio-sensitivity of the tissues involved. The effects of radiation are the same, whether from a radiation source outside the body or from material within. The effects of a quick i

Some topics in this essay:
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