Nuclear chain reactions within power plants do not produce bomb-like explosions primarily because the
a. isotope of uranium used in power plants never undergoes fission
b. isotope of uranium used in power plants decays too quickly to be used for bombs
c. isotope of uranium used in power plants has a slower decay rate than the one used for bombs
d. density of uranium within nuclear fuel rods is insufficient to become explosive

D. Density of uranium within nuclear fuel rods is insufficient to become explosive

Explanation: Nuclear power plants use the same fuel as nuclear bombs, i.e. radioactive Uranium-235 isotope. However, in a nuclear power plant, the energy is released more slowly unlike in a nuclear bomb. The energy released is through nuclear fission, and radioactive decay occurs at the same rate as in nuclear bombs. therefore, option A, B and C are incorrect.

The primary reason why nuclear chain reactions within power plants do NOT produce bomb-like explosions is because the uranium fuel rods used in electricity generation is not sufficiently enriched in Uranium-235 to produce a nuclear detonation. This is the same idea in option D which is the correct option.

answer: the correct answer is 1.

explanation: there are various process in which a radioactive nuclei decays:

1) alpha decay: in this process, a heavier nuclei decays into lighter nuclei by releasing alpha particle. the mass number is reduced by 4 units.

2) electron capture: in this decay process, a parent nuclei absorbs an electron and gets converted into a neutron. simply, a proton and an electron combines together to form a neutron. mass number does not change in this process.

3) gamma ray emission: it is a decay process in which an unstable nuclei gives excess energy by a spontaneous electromagnetic process. this decay releases . this process does not change the mass number.

4) positron emission: it is a type of decay process, in which a proton gets converted to neutron and an electron neutrino. this is also known as -decay. in this the mass number remains same.

from the above information, we see that only alpha-decay is producing a change in the mass number of the nucleus.