[[File:Nuclear_fission_reaction.svg|thumb|right|Diagram of a nuclear fission reaction]]
[[File:Nuclear_fission_reaction.svg|thumb|right|Diagram of a nuclear fission reaction]]
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* [[Nuclear weapon]]
* [[Nuclear weapon]]
* [[Nuclear power]]
* [[Nuclear power]]
== References ==
* {{cite book |last=Krane |first=Kenneth S. |title=Introductory Nuclear Physics |year=1987 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-471-80553-3}}
[[Category:Uranium]]
[[Category:Uranium]]
[[Category:Nuclear materials]]
[[Category:Nuclear materials]]
[[Category:Isotopes]]
[[Category:Isotopes]]
<gallery>
File:HEUraniumC.jpg
File:Nuclear_fission_reaction.svg
</gallery>
==Uranium-235==
'''Uranium-235''' ('''U-235''') is an isotope of [[uranium]] that is significant in both nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons. It is one of the few materials that can sustain a [[nuclear chain reaction]].
==Properties==
Uranium-235 has a [[half-life]] of approximately 703.8 million years. It is a [[fissile material]], meaning it can sustain a chain reaction of nuclear fission. When a [[neutron]] is absorbed by a U-235 nucleus, it can cause the nucleus to become unstable and split into two smaller nuclei, releasing a significant amount of [[energy]] and additional neutrons. This process is the basis for both nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
==Occurrence==
Uranium-235 is found in nature as a minor component of natural uranium, which is primarily composed of [[uranium-238]]. Natural uranium contains about 0.72% U-235. The rest is mostly U-238, with trace amounts of other isotopes. Because of its low natural abundance, U-235 must be enriched for use in nuclear reactors and weapons.
==Enrichment==
[[Uranium enrichment]] is the process of increasing the percentage of U-235 in uranium. This is typically done using methods such as [[gaseous diffusion]], [[gas centrifuge]], or [[laser enrichment]]. Enriched uranium is used as fuel in nuclear reactors and as material for nuclear weapons.
==Applications==
===Nuclear Power===
In [[nuclear power plants]], U-235 is used as a fuel to produce electricity. The fission of U-235 in a nuclear reactor releases heat, which is used to produce steam that drives [[turbines]] connected to [[electric generators]].
===Nuclear Weapons===
Uranium-235 is a critical component in the design of [[nuclear weapons]]. The first nuclear weapon used in warfare, the "[[Little Boy]]" bomb dropped on [[Hiroshima]], was a gun-type fission weapon that used U-235.
==Safety and Handling==
Handling uranium-235 requires careful safety measures due to its radioactive nature and potential for criticality accidents. Facilities that process or use U-235 must adhere to strict [[nuclear safety]] regulations to prevent accidental releases of radiation or nuclear criticality incidents.
==Related pages==
* [[Uranium]]
* [[Nuclear fission]]
* [[Nuclear reactor]]
* [[Nuclear weapon]]
* [[Uranium enrichment]]
{{Nuclear technology}}
{{Isotopes of uranium}}
[[Category:Nuclear materials]]
[[Category:Isotopes]]
[[Category:Nuclear power]]
Latest revision as of 13:20, 31 March 2025
Highly enriched uraniumDiagram of a nuclear fission reaction
Uranium-235 has a half-life of approximately 703.8 million years. It decays into thorium-231 through alpha decay. The isotope is notable for its ability to undergo nuclear fission when it absorbs a neutron.
When uranium-235 absorbs a neutron, it can undergo fission, splitting into two smaller nuclei, along with a few neutrons and a large amount of energy. This process is the basis for both nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The fission of uranium-235 releases about 200 MeV of energy per atom, which is harnessed in nuclear reactors to produce electricity.
Natural uranium contains only about 0.72% uranium-235, with the rest being mostly uranium-238. For many applications, such as in nuclear reactors and weapons, uranium must be enriched to increase the concentration of uranium-235. Enriched uranium contains a higher percentage of uranium-235, while depleted uranium has a lower percentage.
Uranium-235 is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors and as a material in nuclear weapons. In reactors, it is used to sustain a controlled chain reaction, providing a steady source of energy. In weapons, it is used to create an uncontrolled chain reaction, resulting in a powerful explosion.
The discovery of uranium-235's fissile properties was a key development in the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The first atomic bomb used in warfare, dropped on Hiroshima, was a uranium-based bomb known as "Little Boy."
