Which of the following is NOT an atomic fuel? 

The correct answer is option 1): Cadmium 

Concept:

• Nuclear fuel is a material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to power turbines.
• Heat is created when nuclear fuel undergoes nuclear fission
• Most nuclear fuels contain heavy fissile actinide elements that are capable of undergoing and sustaining nuclear fission.
• The most relevant fissile isotopes are uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239.
• Thorium is a nuclear fuel. Thorium (Th-232) is not itself fissile and so is not directly usable in a thermal neutron reactor. However, it is 'fertile' and upon absorbing a neutron will transmute to uranium-233 (U-233)a, which is an excellent fissile fuel material When the unstable nuclei of these atoms are hit by a slow-moving neutron, they split, creating two daughter nuclei and two or three more neutrons.
• These neutrons then go on to split more nuclei. This creates a self-sustaining chain reaction that is controlled in a nuclear reactor, or uncontrolled in a nuclear weapon.
• The element Cadmium has a higher neutron absorption cross-sectional area than nuclear fuels like Uranium or Thorium. Hence option 1) is wrong
  Additional Information 

  Advantages of Nuclear Power Plant:

• The amount of fuel required is quite small. Therefore, there is a minimum cost of fuel transportation.
• A nuclear power plant requires less space as compared to any other type of the same size.
• It has low running charges as a small amount of fuel is used for producing bulk electrical energy.
• This type of plant is very economical for producing bulk electric power.
• It can be located near the load centers because it does not require large quantities of water and need not be near coal mines. Therefore, the cost of primary distribution is reduced.
• There are large deposits of nuclear fuels available all over the world. Therefore, such plants can ensure a continued supply of electrical energy for thousands of years.
• It ensures the reliability of operation.

Disadvantages:

• The fuel used is expensive and difficult to recover.
• The initial cost of a nuclear plant is high.
• The erection and commissioning of the plant require greater technical knowledge.
• The fission by-products are generally radioactive