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Isotopes In Making Atomic Bombs

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After researching, I know that isotopes such as Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are used in atomic bombs. However, what are isotopes? Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but have a different number of neutrons. Hence, we can say that isotopes are same elements with the same atomic number but different mass number.

Out of the 118 elements that have been discovered, only uranium and plutonium are used to make atomic bombs. As if that was not specific enough, only a certain isotope from these two elements were used in the making of atomic bombs, Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239. This made me question myself, why only these two isotopes from these two elements were used in the making of atomic bombs?

Uranium and plutonium are used …show more content…

It used conventional explosives around a central plutonium mass to quickly squeeze and consolidate the plutonium, increasing the pressure and density of the substance. This allowed the plutonium to reach its critical mass and fire neutrons, allowing the fission chain reaction to proceed. In order to detonate this bomb, the explosives were ignited, releasing a shockwave that compressed the inner plutonium and led to its explosion. The implosion-type design allowed the plutonium to release more energy as compared to the gun-type design. Hence, the difference between the Fat man and the Little Boy, other than the elements used in the atomic bombs, is that two different designs were …show more content…

However, what are isotopes? Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but have a different number of neutrons. Hence, we can say that isotopes are same elements with the same atomic number but different mass number.

Out of the 118 elements that have been discovered, only uranium and plutonium are used to make atomic bombs. As if that was not specific enough, only a certain isotope from these two elements were used in the making of atomic bombs, Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239. This made me question myself, why only these two isotopes from these two elements were used in the making of atomic bombs?

Uranium and plutonium are used because they are heavy metals, thus can be used as an abundant source of concentrated energy. However, why specifically Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 only? It is because these two isotopes are able to sustain a fission chain reaction, which is important in an atomic bomb as a fission reaction is required to produce the large amounts of energy that is the explosion of the bomb. This is because these isotopes will split into two smaller atoms, plus more neutrons with the speed required to cause new fissions thus, being able to sustain a fission chain reaction. Hence, Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are used so that the maximum amount of energy is released by the

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