[SkyDancer]

When being home schooled I read about WW2 history and read a book about the building of the atomic bomb. Since Iran was only enriching uranium (U238) the fissionable material was an isotope of U238 being U235. Was Iran separating out U235 from U238 or just enriching U238?

[DiogenesLamp]

When being home schooled I read about WW2 history and read a book about the building of the atomic bomb. Since Iran was only enriching uranium (U238) the fissionable material was an isotope of U238 being U235. Was Iran separating out U235 from U238 or just enriching U238?

It is the same thing. They "enrich" by separating out the 235 from the 238. The longer the process goes, the closer to fissionable material they get.

It was idiocy on our part allowing them to get so far.

[Campion]

“Uranium enrichment” refers to producing uranium with more than the naturally-occurring 0.7% of U-235. Iran has developed a stockpile of 60% enriched uranium. That’s way more enrichment than a powerplant needs; it’s only good as a waystation toward 85% enrichment, which is weapons-grade.

[TexasGator]

“Was Iran separating out U235 from U238 or just enriching U238?”

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+enriching+centrifuge+works&oq=how+enriching+centrifg&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRiPAjIHCAQQIRiPAtIBCTE5NzkxajBqNKgCDrACAfEFBCPvn9alhT0&client=tablet-android-samsung-rvo1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

[Brian Griffin]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_centrifuge

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

“Enrichment” refers to the process of increasing the proportion of U235 (fissionable) in a given sample relative to U238. U235 only occurs as .7% in a given sample of uranium. Power reactors demand a u-235 content of 3 to 5%. Weapons demand a 90% level of u-235. There is no commercial use for Uranium-235 enriched above 5%, other than for the eventual production of weapons.