Uranium

Uranium

Short HistoryUranium was discovered by Martin Heinrich Klaproth,who was a German chemist in 1789. Martin discoveredUranium in Berlin, Germany. Uranium has provided us with Nuclear fuel, which is used to generate electricity in facilities called Nuclear Power Plants.Uranium is also used in a negative way, It is still being used for military purposes: powering nuclear submarines, and to make nuclear missiles to fight at war.

Physical and Chemical PropertiesMelting Point: 1135°C or 2075°FState of Matter: SolidColour: Silvery-white Ductility: YesMalleability: YesThermal Conductivity: 27.5 (J/M sec K)Electrical Conductivity: 33.33 (1 mohm cm)Density: 18.95 grams per cubic centimetreMagnetism: No MagnetismChemical Reactions with other Substances:Uranium is a solid shiny silver-metal.Uranium canreact with cold water. In air the substance iscoated with chemical oxide which tarnishes it, it canalso be destroyed with steam and acids. Enrichment ofUranium will end up in use of military weapons, including:protection on tanks (from bullets and missiles), and Nuclearbombs. Uranium can catch on fire spontaneously, and canoverheat in a Nuclear Power Plant if not cooled down.

Societal ApplicationsIndustry: Uranium is one of the most used chemicals in the process of creating Nuclear Energy. Though, Nuclear power plants can cause harm if not taken care of. One example is if the Nuclear power plants’ core overheats; then it can destroy that entire area; melt the ground, and destroy the power plant. The great Tragedy in Fukushima that happened in 16 March 2011 was when the Nuclear core of a local Nuclear Power Plant Overheated and caused an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami.Medicine: Uranium is used to create radiation to cure many diseases or cancers in the body. Radiotherapy (the treatment of diseases with the use of X-Rays and other forms of Radiation) is used to treat some medical conditions that the human body might be infected with; such as cancer, which is used to destroy specific cells in the body using lasers.Military: Uranium was and still is a big use for military purposes, it is used for creating ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), also for protecting tanks from missiles and gunfire, and for creating Nuclear Missiles. Back in World War II, Uranium was used to create bombs to be used against the enemy; the US used two Nuclear bombs against their opponents (Japan). The US dropped a Nuclear bomb code named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, ending the war between the two.

Quick FactHenri Antoine Becquerel discovered that uranium was radioactive in 1896.

Quick FactUranium is 40 times more naturally abundant than silver.

Quick Fact:A uranium-238 atom has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its nucleus.

Uranium - Periodic Table of Videos

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