What is a nuclear meltdown?
Q: What is a nuclear meltdown?
A: A nuclear meltdown is a malfunction of a nuclear reactor where the middle portion of the reactor containing fuel rods is not properly cooled, causing the materials inside to become hot and start melting.
Q: What is another name for a nuclear meltdown?
A: Nuclear engineers usually refer to it as a core melt accident.
Q: How can a nuclear reactor experience a meltdown?
A: A nuclear reactor can experience a meltdown when the cooling system fails or is otherwise defective.
Q: What happens to the materials inside a nuclear reactor during a meltdown?
A: The uranium or plutonium or similar materials inside the nuclear reactor become hot and may start melting or dissolving.
Q: What is corium?
A: Corium is the liquified mixture of uranium or plutonium or similar materials, fission products, melted zirconium from the fuel rod cladding, and other materials, that results from a nuclear meltdown.
Q: Why is corium hazardous?
A: Corium is highly radioactive and remains hazardous for many centuries after a meltdown.
Q: What is the hazard associated with zirconium during a nuclear meltdown?
A: Zirconium is a hazard because at high temperatures, it can react with the cooling water and make flammable hydrogen gas.
