Question

what if we use gold to make nuclear rods in nuclear reactors instead of boron, cadmium, silver, hafnium, or indium

Answer 1

Answer:

Control rods are used in nuclear reactors to control the fission rate of uranium or plutonium. Their compositions includes chemical elements, such as boron, cadmium, silver, hafnium, or indium, that are capable of absorbing many neutrons without themselves fissioning. These elements have different neutron capture cross sections for neutrons of various energies. Boiling water reactors (BWR), pressurized water reactors (PWR), and heavy-water reactors (HWR) operate with thermal neutrons, while breeder reactors operate with fast neutrons. Each reactor design can use different control rod materials based on the energy spectrum of its neutrons.