What is Uranium? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts

What is Uranium?

Uranium is the heaviest of the natural elements. It is found on line seven of the periodic table and is part of the actinide group. The uranium atom has 92 electrons, and 92 protons with six valence electrons. There are 146 neutrons in the most abundant isotope.

Characteristics and Properties

Under normal conditions, uranium is a hard, silvery metal. It is malleable (meaning it can be forged into a thin sheet) and malleable (meaning it can be drawn into a long thread). It is very dense and heavy.

Pure uranium is radioactive. It will react with most non-metallic elements to form compounds. When exposed to air, a thin black layer of uranium oxide forms on its surface.

Uranium 235 is the only naturally occurring fission isotope. Fission means it can sustain a chain reaction of nuclear fission. This feature is very important in nuclear reactors and nuclear explosives.

Highlights of Uranium:

Where is Uranium found on Earth?

Uranium is the 50th most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It can be found in very small traces in most rocks and in seawater. In the earth’s crust, it is found in minerals such as uraninite, carnotite, torbernite, and carvedite.

How is Uranium used today?

The main use of uranium today is as fuel for nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants generate energy by inducing a controlled fission chain reaction with uranium. This produces a huge amount of energy from a small amount of uranium. One kilogram of uranium can produce as much energy as 1500 tons of coal.

Uranium is also used by the military for special ammunition. Depleted uranium (DU) is used in ammunition and larger projectiles to make them hard and dense enough to penetrate armored targets. It is also used to improve metal armor used on tanks and other armored vehicles.

The Atomic Bomb

Uranium was used to create the first atomic bomb used during World War II. This bomb was called “Little Boy” and it was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Today, nuclear bombs use other materials such as plutonium.

How was Uranium discovered?

Uranium was discovered by German chemist Martin H. Klaproth in 1789. He discovered the element while experimenting with the mineral pitchblende. Uranium was not completely isolated until 1841 by the French chemist Eugène Péligot.

Where did Uranium get its name?

It was named by Martin Klaproth after the recently discovered planet Uranus.

Isotopes

Uranium has three naturally occurring isotopes. Uranium 238 is the most stable and makes up more than 99% of natural uranium.

Interesting Facts about Uranium

Yellowcake is an intermediate step in the refining of pure uranium. It is a yellow powder consisting mainly of uranium oxide.