What are the nuclear reactions required to produce $^{239} P u$ $""_""^239 Pu$ from $^{238} U$ $""_""^238 U$ under fast neutron bombardment?

Question

I know that $^{238} U$ $""_""^238 U$ almost never fissions, but instead tends to absorb neutrons, producing neptunium and plutonium.

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Answer 1 · 2017-12-14T10:13:48

See the reaction below

The reactions are

$_{92}^{238} U +_{0}^{1} n \to_{92}^{239} U$ $""_92^238U+""_0^1n rarr ""_92^239U$

$^{239} U \to^{239} N p +_{- 1}^{0} e$ $""^239 U rarr "" ^ 239 Np + ""_-1 ^0 e$ , Emission $β^{-}$ $beta^-$

$^{239} N p \to^{239} P u +_{- 1}^{0} e$ $"" ^ 239 Np rarr "" ^ 239 Pu + ""_-1 ^0 e$ , Emission $β^{-}$ $beta^-$