Uranium
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Uranium (U) is a silvery-white colored radioactive metal that has the atomic number 92 in the periodic table. It is an Actinoid Metal with the symbol U.
Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth. He was studying the mineral pitchblende and upon mixing with nitric acid and potash discovered a yellow precipitate. He named it Uranium, after the planet Uranus. It was not until 1841 that Eugene-Melchior Peligot isolated uranium metal. Uranium oxides have been used for many years as pigments due to their intense yellow colour. Uranium is a highly reactive and radioactive metal and is very popular in thermonuclear reactors due to its ability to undergo nuclear decay and release heat energy. It is also used in nuclear weapons. Uranium occurs in the earths crust as an ore and is not free elementally. Whilst uranium is dangerous it emits alpha particles which cannot penetrate skin, however it is still highly toxic and easily ignites as a powder. It is a solid metal at room temperature and it has a melting point of 1132°c and a boiling point of 4131°c.
FAQ's
Martin Klaproth
1789
Uses
For many centuries it was used as a pigment for glass. Now it is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors and in bombs.
Sources
Occurs in many rocks, but in large amounts only in such minerals as pitchblende and carnotite.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
U
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