Question

Fuel used in nuclear power plants is:
A) Uranium – 235
B) Plutonium – 235
C) Plutonium – 238
D) Uranium – 238

Answer 1

Nuclear fuel is the fuel which is utilised in a nuclear reactor to assist a nuclear chain reaction. These types of fuels are fissile in nature. Most of the nuclear fuels comprise fissile actinide elements which have the capability to undergo and sustain nuclear fission.

Complete answer:
The most common forms of nuclear fuels are radioactive metals including Uranium - 235 and Plutonium - 239. All of the processes engaged in obtaining, refining, and utilising this fuel together form a cycle called nuclear fuel cycle.
Uranium - 235 is employed as a fuel in various concentrations. Some reactors, for example, the CANDU reactor, can use natural uranium in combination with uranium-235 concentrations of only 0.7 %, whereas, other reactors need uranium in slightly more concentrations (3 % - 5 %).
Plutonium – 235 (Option B) and Plutonium – 238 (Option C) are the non-fissile isotopes of Plutonium. Similarly, Uranium – 238 (Option D) is also a non-fissile isotope of Uranium.
Therefore, fuel used in nuclear power plants is the fissile isotope of Uranium i.e. Uranium – 235.

Hence, the correct option is A.

Note: For energy production, unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuels do not directly produce carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide. The processes of mining, transporting, or refining the fuel are associated with carbon emissions comparable to wind as well as solar power. Though the carbon footprint using nuclear fuels is small, there are still drawbacks of employing nuclear fuel.