Question

Separation of isotopes can be made by:
(This question has multiple correct options)
(A) Gaseous diffusion
(B) Thermal diffusion
(C) Distillation
(D) Ultracentrifuge
(E) Electromagnetic separation
(F) Laser spectra

Answer 1

Hint: The six methods of isotope separation methods have all been tried with some isotopes of uranium or hydrogen. Gaseous diffusion process has been successfully employed to obtain enriched uranium.

Complete answer:
 The phenomenon of thermal diffusion consists in the fact that a temperature gradient in a gas mixture of two gases gives rise to a gradient of the relative concentration of the two constituents. Two isotopes with the same energy will have different average velocities in the thermal equilibrium.
Gaseous diffusion method is the first isotope separation method used to produce enriched uranium of gaseous compounds through the semi permeable membrane.
The heavier isotopes sink and lighter isotopes collected by cryogenic distillation.
Electromagnetic isotope separation method, mass spectrograph used for measuring relative abundance of ions for measuring atomic masses.
Laser isotope separation method is a process of two atoms mixture separated by their electric and magnetic properties. This process gives each isotope of an element and each molecule composed of different isotopes a different set of energy levels, leading to small shifts in absorption and emission spectra.
Thermal diffusion, distillation, electromagnetic separation and laser isotope separation methods are used to separate isotopes.

Note:
The limitation of thermal diffusion that a much longer time must elapse before one may begin to obtain concentrated material. The amount of separation is small and many stages are needed to obtain high purity. Gaseous diffusion process efficiency of out of sorting isotopes are very low.