URANIUM STEVEN TAPPEN

GENERAL INFORMATION Atomic structure Element symbol: U 92 electrons; 6 are valence 146 neutrons 92 protons Melting point: 1,132⁰ Celsius / 2,070⁰ Farenheit

DISCOVERY Used in yellow coloring near 79 A.D. Generally credited to Martin H. Klaproth, who concluded pitchblende had a new element, in which he named uranium after the newly discovered planet Uranus.

SPECIALTIES Highly radioactive Half life about same as Earth, so virtually same amount stays on Earth Powers many nuclear components of society and warfare U-235 depletes to form almost pure U-238, which can form Pu-239

HISTORY Discovered by Martin Khlaproth Formed in supernovas about 6.6 billion years ago Main source of heat inside the Earth First isolated as a metal by Eugene-Melchior Peligot in 1941 Radioactivity discovered in 1896 by Henri Becquerel

COMPOUNDS Uranium oxide Uranium tetrafluoride Uranium Metal Uranium Hexafluoride

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES When refined: Silvery-white Weakly radioactive In virtually all soil, water, and air on Earth 65% denser than lead

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES Isotopes: U-234, U-235, and U-238 Half-life: about as long as Earth’s Ores can be converted into uranium oxide or other forms used in industry All isotopes are radioactive

BEST FRIENDS Plutonium 239 Oxygen Fluorine

USES Radiation shielding Counterweights for aircraft control surfaces Keels for yachts Burns at high temperatures to make steam to produce electricity Nuclear weapons Nuclear reactors

RANDOM Because of the fuel used, if a malfunction occurs, the fuel may overheat and melt, but it cannot explode like a bomb. Water, graphite, and heavy water are used as moderators in different types of reactors. Fuel components are surrounded by a moderator, which keeps the process of fission at a steady rate. In a reactor, U-238 can become Plutonium-239 by capturing a neutron, so in a reactor, along with U-235 and U-238, there is Pu-239 burning as well Source of heat inside Earth, causing convection and continental drift Occurs in seawater Found in rocks; 2 to 4 parts per million As common as tin, tungsten, and molybdenum

REFERENCES "Uranium." Radiation Protection. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 30 July Web. 16 Sept "World Nuclear Association." What Is Uranium? How Does It Work. World Nuclear Association, Mar Web. 16 Sept