Nuclear Fission

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atoms to split apart. Uranium-235 is made up of many protons and few neutrons. Protons naturally repel one another so a nucleus made up of many protons tends to ‘fly apart’ more easily. In addition, uranium makes a good nuclear reactor because it can sustain a series of fission reactions, each time producing more neutrons in chain reaction. Therefore, uranium-235 can produce a steady flow energy output.
Uranium can be found in the United States, Canada, and through the world. Uranium in its natural state cannot be used in the fission process. Uranium must go through four steps before it can be transformed into uranium-235. First uranium is mined and sent to a mill where it is crushed, ground and chemicals are added to remove other elements. This results in a powder called yellow cake. This powder is taken to uranium-conversion plants where it is chemically treated again and turned into a gas called uranium hexaflouride. The uranium gas is then treated so it becomes three- percent ...

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