QUESTION

Easy

Science & Technology

Prelims 2012

To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on thorium as the future fuel of nuclear energy. In this context, what advantage does thorium hold over uranium?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Thorium fuel generates no new bomb-usable material in the waste profile; the waste consists of the radioisotope Uranium-233, or U233, which is virtually impossible to weaponize.

Thorium fuel will generate more energy per unit of mass than uranium fuel by a factor of approximately 30.

Thorium is four times more abundant in nature than uranium and is widely distributed throughout the Earth's crust.

All the statements in this question are correct.

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