alleryStart learning →Which uranium compound is used in gaseous diffusion enrichment plants?
AUranium dioxide powder
BUranium nitrate salt
CUranium metal vapour
DUranium hexafluoride
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Uranium hexafluoride
1. Graham's law can only separate isotopes if the uranium is in the gas phase.
2. Uranium hexafluoride is the only uranium compound volatile enough for the job.
3. Pumped through porous barriers, the lighter uranium-235 form passes a little faster and the gas leaving is slightly enriched.
4. A single diffuser gains only about 0.4 percent, so many are linked in a cascade to reach a useful level.
5. Every material in the plant has to resist attack by this highly reactive and corrosive gas.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 "Gases", section 9.4 Effusion and Diffusion of Gases_
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