Breeder reactors are used to convert the nonfissionable nuclide into a fissionable product. Neutron capture of the
Is followed by two successive beta decays. What is the final fissionable product?

Question

Breeder reactors are used to convert the nonfissionable nuclide  into a fissionable product. Neutron capture of the 
Is followed by two successive beta decays. What is the final fissionable product?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nonfissionable nuclide is converted into a fissionable product by neutron capture followed by two successive beta decays. The neutron capture reaction transforms the nuclide into 11eaaf91_9dc7_ffc2_892c_bba6ba8fe50a_TB6422_11, which then undergoes two successive beta decays to produce the final fissionable product. The possible decay chains are:

11eaaf91_9dc7_ffc2_892c_bba6ba8fe50a_TB6422_11 → 11eaaf91_9dc8_26d3_892c_05a070229ad7_TB6422_11 → 11eaaf91_9dc8_26d4_892c_ebbabc10a00d_TB6422_11

or

11eaaf91_9dc7_ffc2_892c_bba6ba8fe50a_TB6422_11 → 11eaaf91_9dc8_4de5_892c_c1eb05edc969_TB6422_11 → 11eaaf91_9dc8_4de6_892c_0942986df93b_TB6422_11

or

11eaaf91_9dc7_ffc2_892c_bba6ba8fe50a_TB6422_11 → 11eaaf91_9dc8_74f7_892c_6925956ef39e_TB6422_11

Since we know that the final product must be fissionable, we can eliminate the third chain that ends with 11eaaf91_9dc8_74f7_892c_6925956ef39e_TB6422_11. The remaining chains both end with fissionable nuclides, but we only need to find one. Looking at the options, only option B ends with 11eaaf91_9dc8_26d4_892c_ebbabc10a00d_TB6422_11, which is a known fissionable nuclide. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Breeder Reactors Are Used to Convert the Nonfissionable Nuclide