How do nuclear reactors utilize chain reactions?

1 Answer
Callum S.
Feb 19, 2015

Nuclear reactors utilize chain reactions by taking the heat that is generated from the reaction,and using it to power people's homes.

The typical source that is used in a nuclear reactor is U235, which absorbs a neutron to become U236, which is unstable, so it splits, releasing energy in the form of heat, as well as two stable nuclei, such as barium-144 and krypton-89, which release a neutron to continue the chain as it strikes another U235 nucleus, causing that one to become unstable, and so on, until all the reactor''s fuel has been used up.

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