URANIUM

By: Munish R. Adhikari

Discovery Of Uranium

Uranium was discovered by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789. Martin Heinrich Klaproth was analysing a mineral called

pitchblende and discovered a black powder in it. The black powder was incorrectly called uranium, however, it

was an oxide of uranium. French Scientist, Eugene Peligot isolated the pure metallic

element in 1841. French Physicist Antoine Becquerel discovered the

radioactive properties of uranium. Marie and Pierre Curie, the French/Polish scientists, explored

radioactivity and found that it was associated with atoms in 1898, leading to the discovery of polonium and radium from the pitchblende.

Characteristics of Uranium

Uranium is a radioactive element. Uranium occurs naturally in varying but small amounts in

soil, rocks, water, plants, animals, and all human beings. It is the heaviest naturally occurring element, with an

atomic number of 92. In its pure form, uranium is a silver-colored heavy metal

that is nearly twice as dense as lead. In nature, uranium exist as several isotopes.

Uranium-238 (meaning 238 protons and neutrons in the nucleus), uranium-235 and uranium-234.

Since Uranium is radioactive, the nuclei spontaneously disintegrates/decays.

Characteristics of Uranium Continued Uranium, the naturally occurring metal and its

isotopes have a half life. Half life is the time it takes for half of the

radioactive substance to decay. Uranium-234 has a half life of 248,000 years Uranium-235 has a half life of 700 Million

years. Uranium-238 has a half life of 4.5 billion years. These are the key uranium isotopes (234, 235

and 238).

Uses of Uranium, Present and Past Uranium was primarily as a colorant in

ceramic glazes to produce colors ranging from orange-red to lemon yellow.

It was used for tinting in early photography. It is currently used as a fuel in nuclear power

reactors to generate electricity. It is used in weapons applications. It is used in small nuclear reactors to produce

isotopes for medical and industrial purposes around the world.

Source of the Element

Uranium is found in numerous minerals, such as pitchblende, uraninite, carnotite, autunite, uranophane and tobernite.

Uranium is also found in phosphate rock, lignite, monazite sands, and can be recovered commercially from these sources.

Uranium is one of the most unstable elements known to man.

Uranium is so active that it is nearly impossible to purify.

Uranium clings tightly to any impurities

Final Notes on Uranium

Uranium is the most dense naturally occurring element known to man.

Uranium can be used for weapons, energy or medicine.

Uranium is radioactive. Homer handles Uranium.

Bibliography

“About Uranium: Discovery of Uranium” http://www.uraniumsa.org/about/discovery.htm January 12, 2006.

“What is Uranium?” Depleted UF6. http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/ucompound/whatisu/index.cfm January 12, 2006.

“Characteristics of Uranium and Its Compounds” US Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management” Fall 2001. http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/pdf/UraniumCharacteristicsFS.PDF January 12, 2006.

“Uranium” 5 Fantastic Elements. http://library.thinkquest.org/J002959F/uranium.htm January 12, 2006.