Even after suffering a huge attack in Fordo, Isfahan and Natanj nuclear site, Iran has announced that its nuclear enrichment program will continue. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Rawanchi has said that Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment despite Israeli and the US attack. Majid Takht Ravanchi said that no one should tell us what we have to do and what not to do.
The word which is the most discussed after the Israeli attack on Iran is uranium inricment. After all, what is this process in the context of uranium. Why is uranium inricment necessary to make an atom bomb? What is more use of uranium in addition to atomic bombs? How is uranium enrichment done? Let us understand the answer to these questions one by one.
What is uranium, and what is radioactive metal
Uranium is a radioactive metal. It is the heaviest natural element found on the surface of the Earth. Now the question is what are radioactive metals. Radioactivity is a natural atomic process in which no atom (Nucleus) becomes unstable and breaks down to make itself stable.
Radioactive metal means a metal that breaks down automatically and during this breakdown, energy and harmful rays (alpha, beta, gamma) come out. These harmful rays are called radiation.
This process goes on automatically without any external pressure.
It can be said that radioactive metals are metals that have atoms unstable nuclei. Such as uranium, plutonium and thorium.
The unstable of these metals to be unstable is both their biggest feature and the biggest strength and challenge for humans.
Two isotopes of uranium
Uranium found on Earth has two types of isotopes-U-238 and U-235. Here isotope means the form of the same element in which the proton is similar but the neutrons are different.
Both isotopes of uranium have 92 protons, but U-238 consists of 146 neutrons and U-235 in 143 neutrons.
The first isotopes of uranium (92 proton + 146 neutron = 238) are called U-238.
While the second isotope (92 proton +143 neutron = 235) is called U-235.
3 Nutrons change the full story
But the difference between this 3 neutron changes their specialty manifold. The change of these 3 nutritions becomes manifold, destructive and dangerous compared to U-235, U-238.
But the justice of nature is that U-238 is found in very high amounts on earth. Its volume in uranium is about 93.7 percent. While the amount of powerful U-235 is only 0.7 percent. But this is 0.7 percent of the nuclear fuel, that is, it makes energy or atom bomb.
When breaks U-235
It breaks down when the neutron collides with U-235 during nuclear fragmentation. In this process, a large amount of energy is released, with 2-3 more neutrons, these neutrons collide with the next uranium nucleus and then energy is released. This makes the chain reaction begins. If you control this chain reaction, then you can use this energy as electricity, but when the chain reaction is uncontrolled, it becomes an atom bomb.
Significantly, when the neutron collides with U-238, there is no such response, because he catches neutron but does not break.
What is uranium enrichment
As we have mentioned above, the natural uranium from uranium mines is very less useful, as the quantity of U-235 is only 0.7 percent. To use it, it has to increase the amount of U-235. This process is called Uranium Enrichment. That is, the process of increasing the amount of U-235 in natural uranium and reducing U-238 is called uranium inrich.
How much promotion of uranium is necessary for what work
Power generation (3 to 5 percent)
If you want to make electricity from uranium, then you will have to inner the uranium for 3 to 5 percent. That is, the U-235 which has 3 to 5 percent uranium can be used in nuclear power houses and it can be made electricity. This uranium is called low enriched uranium. The uranium of this level of nuclear power houses around the world is done to make electricity in its nuclear reactors.
Nuclear Research Reactor, Cancer Treatment (20 %)
When uranium inrictions are up to 20 per cent, it is used in naval ships and submarines reactors. This state of uranium is called highly enriched uranium. Uranium has become very powerful and destroyer by coming to this level. The higher the inricment of uranium-235, the more fatal, destructive and powerful.
Atom bomb (90 percent)
When uranium inrictions are up to 90 percent, this ‘material’ is ready to make the atom bomb. That is, uranium has now achieved that stage, when the neutron is hit in it, the chain reaction can begin and the immense amount of energy will be released. That is, an atom bomb can be formed. This is called Weapon Grade Uranium.
When Narasimha Rao told Atal- the material is ready
Here, let me tell you the short story of India’s nuclear program. When former Prime Minister of India PV Narasimha Rao passed away. So in 2004, the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee told an anecdote. He had said that after becoming PM, PV Narasimha Rao told him that ‘material’ is ready. Just the tests are yet to be done.
Let us know that on 11 May 1998, India under the leadership of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made nuclear blasts and announced India’s nuclear power to be done in front of the world. Earlier, during the tenure of PV Narasimha, India had achieved the target of promoting uranium up to 90 percent.
How is uranium enhancement
Promotion of uranium is a complex scientific process. This is the process in which the concentration of uranium-235 (U-235) present in natural uranium is increased, which is only 0.7% in the natural state. The rest of this is uranium-238.
For enrichment, uranium ore (eg pichbaland) is first mined and uranium oxide (u₃o₈, yellokek) is made. Yellocke is converted into uranium hexaphloride (UF₆) gas, it is a flying and light gas. Which is suitable for promotion.
The UF₆ is inserted into the Centrifuse rotating at high speed (approximately 100,000 rpm). U-235, which is light which is drawn towards the center, while heavy U-238 remains outside. This increases the concentration of U-235.
Centrifuse is added to the cascade, where the UF₆ is repeatedly promoted.
Explain that uranium requires several stages to reach 0.7% to 3-5% then 20%, 60%, and eventually 90%.
Inrictions ranging from 60% to 90% are relatively fast, as most U-238 is already removed.
In the last phase of the inricment, U-235 (90%) is finally prepared for nuclear weapons in the form of metal or oxide. That is, uranium atom is now ready to become a bomb. Now it needs to strike from nutritions.
Explain that if any country promotes uranium above 20%, then it can soon reach 90%. Therefore, it is a matter of international concern.
Where is Iran’s uranium enrichment reached
Iran’s uranium enrichment has reached 60%, close to weapon-grade, and its uranium reserves are sufficient for 9 nuclear weapons. On June 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this. In February 2023, IAEA found up to 84% of the particles of uranium, on which Iran had clarified that this is a mistake in the laboratory.
It is worth noting that from 60% to 90% enrichment is relatively fast, as more than 90% technical work is completed by 60%. The biggest question is that only up to 20 percent of uranium for non -military purpose is sufficient. The innovation further reflects atoms and military ambitions.