A radioactive metal used as a nuclear fuel and in weapons is?

A radioactive metal used as a nuclear fuel and in weapons is?

• A. Neon
• B. Uranium
• C. Ammonium
• D. Chlorofluorocarbons

Answer: (B)

Fissionable energy release through a chain reaction is what makes a metal suitable for both nuclear fuel and weapons. Uranium fits this role because certain isotopes, especially uranium-235, readily absorb a neutron and split into lighter elements, releasing a lot of energy and more neutrons to keep the reaction going. That chain-reaction capability is essential for both generating power in reactors and producing the rapid, large energy release needed for weapons. The other options aren’t metals and aren’t radioactive in the context of usable nuclear fuel: neon is an inert gas, ammonium is a non-metal compound, and chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic carbon-halogen compounds, none of which provide the sustained fission process.

Fissionable energy release through a chain reaction is what makes a metal suitable for both nuclear fuel and weapons. Uranium fits this role because certain isotopes, especially uranium-235, readily absorb a neutron and split into lighter elements, releasing a lot of energy and more neutrons to keep the reaction going. That chain-reaction capability is essential for both generating power in reactors and producing the rapid, large energy release needed for weapons. The other options aren’t metals and aren’t radioactive in the context of usable nuclear fuel: neon is an inert gas, ammonium is a non-metal compound, and chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic carbon-halogen compounds, none of which provide the sustained fission process.