Uranium vs Thorium Nuclear Reactors - Essay Example

Thorium is safer than uranium in diverse means. In terms of the environment, thorium is a better product in contrast to uranium. In the reaction process, most of the thorium is combusted in a way that most of the thorium is spent. This means that a lower amount of waste is produced. Eventually, there are less harmful waste in the surroundings. This argument favors thorium reactors because their resistance to meltdowns is greater. This means that it is safer, although there is always the possibility of some poisonousness. It is poisonous in the short-term, but nearly harmless in the long term in comparison to uranium.

Although both of them are nuclear reactors, they use dissimilar fission reactions. In essence, this means that some different products and properties arise from the reactions. While uranium cannot be easily used with thorium, thorium can be mixed with other uranium extracts. This means that its use does not mean that uranium would be out-of-date. They can be used together to form bigger and more potent compounds. However, scientific research indicates that the assembly of thorium is not as stress-free as that of uranium.

Scientifically, thorium is not fissile. While uranium can split to form a nuclear chain reaction, thorium cannot split. Even so, it can be made fissile through the bombardment of diverse chemical reactions. Apart from that, the damage caused in the Fukushima disaster evidences how volatile uranium can be. On the contrary, thorium does not exhibit such reactions, and it cannot be used in making weapons. In case of a catastrophe, a thorium reaction can be stopped because it is not fissile. In terms of density, thorium is about 200 times heavier than uranium and other lead products.

Thorium is perhaps better than uranium as a nuclear reactor. In the main, it is a better substitute when equated to uranium. However, there still exists some challenges in the use of thorium, mainly because of personal welfare. Over the years, the use of uranium has formed a multi-billion industry that is controlled by personal interests. The use of thorium has tantalized the energy market as a new competitor in primary bases of energy. Despite the hype it has received, it remains to be nonviolent, low-priced, more plentiful, and less harmful than uranium. All the same, there is a need for more research to determine whether thorium will deliver better than uranium. For the time being, it is a better version when likened to uranium. Read More