uranium-239

chemical isotope

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In uranium processing
…upon absorbing a neutron, forms uranium-239, and this latter isotope eventually decays into plutonium-239—a fissile material of great importance in nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Another fissile isotope, uranium-233, can be formed by neutron irradiation of thorium-232.
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In uranium processing: Conversion to plutonium
…ray (γ), becomes the isotope uranium-239 (the higher mass number reflecting the presence of one more neutron in the nucleus). Over a certain period of time (23.5 minutes), this radioactive isotope loses a negatively charged electron, or beta particle (β^-); this loss of a negative charge raises the positive charge…
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