Multiple choice

Why is 'heavy water' preferred to 'normal water' for using as a coolant in a nuclear reactor?

  1. Heavy water has a higher specific heat capacity than normal water.

  2. Normal water becomes radioactive on coming in contact with the fast-moving neutrons during fission process whereas heavy water does not.

  3. Heavy water can also be used as a moderator in the same reactor.

  4. Heavy water has more viscosity than normal water.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Today, the term 'heavy water' is somewhat colloquial and pure heavy water for research and commercial use is generally commercially offered, and referred to, as deuterium oxide. It is not radioactive. It is about 11% denser than water, but otherwise physically and chemically it is similar. Heavy water has a higher specific heat capacity than normal water. The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. A coolant in a nuclear reactor is used to remove heat from the nuclear reactor core and transfer it to electrical generators and the environment should have a high specific heat capacity. Thus, heavy water is ideal as a coolant in a nuclear reactor.

Keep practicing — related questions