Editing Isotope separation (section)

==Techniques==
There are three types of isotope separation techniques:
* Those based directly on the [[atomic weight]] of the isotope.
* Those based on the small differences in chemical [[Reaction rate|reaction rates]] produced by different atomic weights.
* Those based on properties not directly connected to atomic weight, such as [[nuclear magnetic resonance#Chemistry|nuclear resonances]].

The third type of separation is still experimental; practical separation techniques all depend in some way on the atomic mass. It is therefore generally easier to separate isotopes with a larger relative mass difference. For example, [[deuterium]] has twice the mass of ordinary (light) [[hydrogen]] and it is generally easier to purify it than to separate [[uranium-235]] from the more common [[uranium-238]]. On the other extreme, separation of fissile [[plutonium-239]] from the common impurity [[plutonium-240]], while desirable in that it would allow the creation of [[gun-type fission weapon]]s from plutonium, is generally agreed to be impractical.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Garwin |first=Richard L. |date=Nov 1997 |title=The Technology of Nuclear Weapons |journal=Arms Control Today |volume=27 |issue=8 |pages=6–7 |via=Proquest}}</ref>