Which statement best distinguishes uranium-235 and uranium-238 in a conventional thermal-neutron reactor?

Options

• Option A

  Both isotopes undergo thermal-neutron fission with essentially the same probability

• Option B

  Uranium-238 is readily fissile with slow neutrons but uranium-235 is not

• Option C

  Uranium-235 is readily fissile with thermal neutrons, whereas uranium-238 is mainly fertile and can ultimately produce plutonium-239 after neutron capture

• Option D

  Neither isotope can absorb neutrons