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Question:

Among the following which is used to control the rate of reaction in nuclear fission reactions?

Water

Cadmium

Graphite

Heavy water

Solution:

Cadmium and Boron are the commonly used neutron absorbents. To control a chain reaction that could take place in a fission reaction in nuclear plants, neutron absorbents absorb the neutrons to keep the multiplication factor of the reactor equal to one. The absorbing of the extra neutron prevents them from triggering further reactions.