HL Paper 3
Nuclear reactions transform one nuclide into another. Fission, splitting a large nucleus into two smaller nuclei, releases vast amounts of energy.
(i) Uranium hexafluoride, UF6, is used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors.
State the molecular shape of uranium hexafluoride.
(ii) Explain why uranium dioxide, UO2, has a very high melting point whereas uranium hexafluoride vapourises easily into gas.