Chemistry - Uranium

Introduction

• Uranium is the metal of the actinide series of the periodic table.

• The symbol of uranium is ‘U’ and atomic number is ’92.’

• In 1789, Martin Heinrich Klaproth had discovered the element uranium and named it after the name of Uranus.

Salient Features of Uranium

• Uranium is a silvery-white metal.

• A uranium atom has 92 electrons as well as 92 protons, of which 6 are valence electrons.

• Because of having unstable isotopes, uranium is a weak radioactive element.

• Uranium-238 is the most common isotope of uranium.

• Uranium occurs naturally in very low concentrations i.e. a few parts per million in rock, soil, and water.

• Uranium decays gradually (slowly) by emitting its alpha particle.

• Uranium has poor electric conductivity (so poor conductor of electricity).

• Uranium is malleable, ductile, and marginally paramagnetic

Occurrence of Uranium

• Uranium is (naturally) found as uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234.

• The half-life of uranium-238 is about 4.47 billion years almost the age of the Earth and the half-life of uranium-235 is about 704 million years.

Alloys of Uranium

• Following are the major alloys of Uranium −

  • Staballoy

  • Uranium hydride

Compounds of Uranium

• Following are the major compounds of Uranium −

  • Uranium nitride - U₂N₃

  • Uranium pentafluoride - UF₅

  • Uranium carbide - UC

  • Uranyl fluoride - UO₂F₂

  • Uranium dioxide - UO₂

  • Uranium hexafluoride - UF₆

  • Triuranium oxtoxide - U₃O₈

  • Uranium tetrafluoride - UF₄

  • Uranium trioxide - UO₃

  • Uranium tetrachloride - Ucl₄

  • Uranyl nitrate - UO₂(NO₃)₂

Uses of Uranium

• Uranium is used as power source in nuclear submarines (especially by military).

• Uranium is used in making nuclear weapons.

• Uranium is also used as ballasts for ships.