Centrifugation can be used to separate isotopes. To do this, a mixture of two gases is placed in a rapidly rotating cylindrical vessel, and due to centrifugal forces, the concentration of isotopes near the walls of the cylinder will differ from their concentration in the center. Compare the concentration of light and heavy uranium isotopes at the walls of the centrifuge if the cylinder diameter is 10 cm, the rotation speed is 2.0 103 rpm, and the temperature of uranium hexafluoride is 27°C. Find the degree of enrichment of the mixture with the heavy isotope near the walls of the vessel. The degree of enrichment is the quotient of the concentration ratio during rotation divided by the initial concentration ratio.

Detailed solution. Format gif