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Uranium (U), radioactive chemical element of

the actinoid series of the periodic table, atomic
ISOTOPE BROCHURE Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and

number 92. It is an important nuclear fuel.
atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the
actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has
Uranium constitutes about two parts per
92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence million of Earth’s crust. Some important
Uranium (92U) is a naturally occurring radioactive
electrons. Uranium is weakly radioactive because all uranium minerals are pitchblende (impure
element that has no stable isotope. It has two U3O8), uraninite (UO2), carnotite (a potassium
primordial isotopes, uranium-238 and uranium-235, isotopes of uranium are unstable; the half-lives of its
that have long half-lives and are found in appreciable naturally occurring isotopes range between 159,200 years uranium vanadate), autunite (a calcium
quantity in the Earth's crust. The decay product and 4.5 billion years. The most common isotopes in uranium phosphate), and torbernite (a copper
uranium-234 is also found. Other isotopes such as natural uranium are uranium-238 (which has 146 uranium phosphate). These and other
uranium-233 have been produced in breeder reactors.. neutrons and accounts for over 99% of uranium on Earth) recoverable uranium ores, as sources of
and uranium-235 (which has 143 neutrons). Uranium has nuclear fuels, contain many times more energy
the highest atomic weight of the primordially occurring than all the known recoverable deposits of
Naturally occurring uranium is composed of three elements. Its density is about 70% higher than that of fossil fuels. One pound of uranium yields as
major isotopes, uranium-238 (99.2739–99.2752% lead, and slightly lower than that of gold or tungsten. It much energy as 1.4 million kilograms (3 million
natural abundance), uranium-235 (0.7198–0.7202%), occurs naturally in low concentrations of a few parts per
and uranium-234 (0.0050–0.0059%).[3] All three
pounds) of coal.
million in soil, rock and water, and is commercially Uranium is a dense, hard metallic element that
isotopes are radioactive (i.e., they are radioisotopes),
extracted from uranium-bearing minerals such as is silvery white in colour. It is ductile,
and the most abundant and stable is uranium-238,
uraninite.
with a half-life of 4.4683×109 years (close to the age of malleable, and capable of taking a high polish.
the Earth) In air the metal tarnishes and when finely
In nature, uranium is found as uranium-238 (99.2739–
99.2752%), uranium-235 (0.7198–0.7202%), and a very divided breaks into flames. It is a relatively
small amount of uranium-234 (0.0050–0.0059%).[4] poor conductor of electricity. Though
Uranium decays slowly by emitting an alpha particle. The
half-life of uranium-238 is about 4.47 billion years and
discovered (1789) by German chemist Martin
Uranium-238 is an alpha emitter, decaying through the that of uranium-235 is 704 million years,[5] making them Heinrich Klaproth, who named it after the then
18-member uranium series into lead-206. The decay useful in dating the age of the Earth. Many contemporary recently discovered planet Uranus, the metal
series of uranium-235 (historically called actino- uses of uranium exploit its unique nuclear properties. itself was first isolated (1841) by French chemist
uranium) has 15 members and ends in lead-207. The Uranium-235 is the only naturally occurring fissile Eugène-Melchior Péligot by the reduction of
constant rates of decay in these series makes isotope, which makes it widely used in nuclear power
comparison of the ratios of parent-to-daughter plants and nuclear weapons. However, because of the
uranium tetrachloride (UCl4) with potassium.
elements useful in radiometric dating. Uranium-233 is tiny amounts found in nature, uranium needs to undergo
made from thorium-232 by neutron bombardment. enrichment so that enough uranium-235 is present.
Uranium-238 is fissionable by fast neutrons, and is ADVERSE EFFECT
fertile, meaning it can be transmuted to fissile
plutonium-239 in a nuclear reactor. Another fissile Uranium is a radioactive material that is very
isotope, uranium-233, can be produced from natural
reactive. As a result it cannot be found in the
Uranium-235 is important for both nuclear reactors thorium and is studied for future industrial use in
and nuclear weapons because it is the only isotope nuclear technology. Uranium-238 has a small probability environment in its elemental form. Uranium
existing in nature to any appreciable extent that is for spontaneous fission or even induced fission with fast compounds that have consisted during
fissile in response to thermal neutrons. Uranium-238 neutrons; uranium-235 and to a lesser degree uranium- reactions of uranium with other elements and
is also important because it is fertile: it absorbs 233 have a much higher fission cross-section for slow
neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that neutrons. In sufficient concentration, these isotopes substances dissolve in water to their own
subsequently decays to the isotope plutonium-239, maintain a sustained nuclear chain reaction. This extend. The water-solubility of a uranium
which also is fissile. generates the heat in nuclear power reactors, and compound determines its mobility in the
produces the fissile material for nuclear weapons.
environment, as well as its toxicity.