Question

Which answer choice best explains why uranium-238 can be used in power plants to generate electricity?
Nuclides of uranium-238 decay over time. They release large amounts of energy as their nuclei break apart.
Nuclides of uranium-238 are extremely stable. They can absorb large amounts of energy without breaking apart, so they rarely need to be replaced.
Because atoms of uranium-238 have many more electrons than protons, they release steady streams of electric current.
Because atoms of uranium-238 have many more protons than neutrons, they attract large numbers of electrons from the surrounding environment.

Answer 1

Choice 1.

Nuclear processes (decay and especially fission) release very large amounts of energy when nuclei break apart. That energy is captured in reactors (directly from fission or after U-238 is converted to fissile Pu-239) to produce steam and generate electricity.