Uranium
(Redirected from Uranic)
Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Uranium is weakly radioactive because all isotopes of uranium are unstable; the two naturally occurring isotopes with significant half-lives are Uranium-235 and Uranium-238. When refined, uranium is a silvery white, weakly radioactive metal, which is slightly softer than steel, and is malleable, ductile, and slightly paramagnetic.
Isotopes[edit | edit source]
Uranium has the highest atomic weight of the naturally occurring elements. Its two principal isotopes are Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 with 143 and 146 neutrons respectively. Uranium-235 is the only naturally occurring fissile isotope. It makes up approximately 0.72% of natural uranium.
Uses[edit | edit source]
The primary use of uranium in the civilian sector is to fuel nuclear power plants. One kilogram of uranium-235 can theoretically produce about 20 terajoules of energy (2 million times more than natural gas). Uranium is also used in the military sector for high-density penetrators.
Health effects[edit | edit source]
Exposure to uranium can result in both chemical and radiological toxicity. The use of Depleted uranium in munitions is controversial because of questions about potential long-term health effects.
See also[edit | edit source]
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- Ca: — Abridged value (uncertainty omitted here)[2]
- Po: [209] — mass number of the most stable isotope
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