After fuel rod cladding breach within a PWR reactor, which outcome quickly degrades reactor control?

💡 Explanation

Increased neutron absorption immediately reduces reactivity because fission products like Xenon-135 are released during the fuel failure, exhibiting neutron poisoning behavior. The **neutron capture cross-section** increases; therefore, operators struggle to maintain criticality rather than other processes impacting coolant acidity or neutron emission properties.

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