Fuels in Nuclear Reactors (Oxford AQA IGCSE Physics)

Revision Note

Caroline Carroll

Written by: Caroline Carroll

Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham

Fuels in Nuclear Reactors

  • Within the core of a nuclear reactor, fuel rods are surrounded by water

  • The fuel rods release energy which is transferred to the water molecules, heating the water

    • The hot water is pumped into a heat exchanger

    • Tubes carrying a separate supply of water run through the heat exchanger

    • The energy is transferred by heating from the hot water in the heat exchanger to the cooler water in the tubes

    • This cools the hot water from the control rods enough to be returned to the reactor

    • The water in the tubes is heated and turns to steam

    • The steam turns a turbine which generates electricity

Model of a nuclear reactor

Nuclear Reactor Components, for IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes
The hot water from the control rods is referred to as coolant. It flows over tubes of colder water as it moves through the heat exchanger. This simultaneously cools the coolant allowing it to be returned to the reactor tank, and boils the water in the tubes turning it to steam.
  • Isotopes of uranium and plutonium both undergo fission and are used as fuels in nuclear power stations

  • The two common isotopes used in nuclear reactors are:

    • Uranium-235

    • Plutonium-239

  • The majority of nuclear reactors use uranium-235

  • A possible nuclear equation for the fission of uranium-235 is

    straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space plus space straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space Rb presubscript 37 presuperscript 96 space plus space Cs presubscript 55 presuperscript 137 space plus space 3 straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1

Worked Example

The table shows some information about different nuclei involved in a nuclear fission reaction within a nuclear reactor.

Nucleus

Symbol

Number of protons

Number of neutrons

Uranium

U

92

143

Barium

Ba

56

88

Krypton

Kr

36

53

 A nucleus of uranium undergoes fission when bombarded with a slow-moving neutron (n) causing it to split into the daughter nuclei barium and krypton plus the release of further neutrons.

Write a balanced nuclear equation for this fission reaction.

......... space plus space......... space rightwards arrow space......... space plus space......... space plus space.........

Answer:

Step 1: Write a word equation using the information in the question

  • Underline or highlight the keywords in the question which give information about the nuclei on the left-hand side (LHS):

"A nucleus of uranium undergoes fission when bombarded with a slow-moving neutron"

  • Underline or highlight the keywords in the question which give information about the nuclei on the right-hand side (RHS):

"causing it to split into the daughter nuclei barium and krypton plus the release of further neutrons"

  • Write a word equation for the reaction:

uranium + neutron → barium + krypton + neutrons

Step 2: Determine the correct symbols for each nucleus or particle

  • We need to write each nucleus or particle in straight X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A notation

  • It can be useful to draw an extra row and column onto the table to do this (green indicates the changes made to the table):

Nucleus

Symbol straight X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A

Number of protons Z

Number of neutrons

Mass number A

Uranium

straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235

92

143

92 + 143 = 235

Barium

Ba presubscript 56 presuperscript 144

56

88

56 + 88 = 144

Krypton

Kr presubscript 36 presuperscript 89

36

53

36 + 53 = 89

Neutron

straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1

0

1

0 + 1 = 1

 Step 3: Write the nuclear equation using the symbols

straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space plus space straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space Ba presubscript 56 presuperscript 144 space plus space Kr presubscript 36 presuperscript 89 space plus space straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1

Step 4: Check the total number of protons on each side

  • Total number of protons (given by the atomic number):

    • On the LHS: 92 + 0 = 92

    • On the RHS: 56 + 36 + 0 = 92

  • The total number of protons is the same on both sides

Step 5: Check the total number of nucleons on each side and balance the equation

  • Total number of nucleons (given by the mass number):

    • On the LHS: 235 + 1 = 236

    • On the RHS: 144 + 89 + 1 = 234

  • There is a difference of 2, and the question states there is a "release of further neutrons"

  • This means there must be 2 extra neutrons released i.e. 3 neutrons in total

  • To represent this, we put a 3 in front of the neutron symbol on the RHS, so, the fully balanced equation is:

straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space plus space straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space Ba presubscript 56 presuperscript 144 space plus space Kr presubscript 36 presuperscript 89 space plus space 3 straight n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1

Examiner Tips and Tricks

You do not need to know the specific details of how a nuclear reactor generates electricity but you are expected to know the specific isotopes (uranium-235 and plutonium-239) that are used as fuels in nuclear reactors.

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Caroline Carroll

Author: Caroline Carroll

Expertise: Physics Subject Lead

Caroline graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Chemistry and Molecular Physics. She spent several years working as an Industrial Chemist in the automotive industry before retraining to teach. Caroline has over 12 years of experience teaching GCSE and A-level chemistry and physics. She is passionate about creating high-quality resources to help students achieve their full potential.

Lucy Kirkham

Author: Lucy Kirkham

Expertise: Head of STEM

Lucy has been a passionate Maths teacher for over 12 years, teaching maths across the UK and abroad helping to engage, interest and develop confidence in the subject at all levels.Working as a Head of Department and then Director of Maths, Lucy has advised schools and academy trusts in both Scotland and the East Midlands, where her role was to support and coach teachers to improve Maths teaching for all.