Uranium Essay

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Recommended: An essay on radioactivity

Michael Chhun
Ms. Morgan
Honors Chemistry
22th November 2013
Uranium
Uranium is an element that is part of the actinide series, is a solid at room temperature, and classified as a metal (Chemical Education). It was first discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth (Chemistry). People believed the mineral was a mixture of ores of iron and zinc (Chemistry). In 1789 Klaproth realized that it contained an unknown metal (Chemistry). Uranium was given its name in honor of Uranus, which the world had recently discovered (Chemistry). Uranium can be found anywhere in the Earth’s crust, it is more common than tungsten, molybdenum, and beryllium (Chemistry). Uranium is a silvery-white metal, but it quickly oxidizes in the air, forming black coating (Chemistry). Uranium’s period number is seven, its atomic number is 92, and its atomic weight is 238.02891 (Chemical Education). Uranium’s melting point is 1408 K (1135ºC or 2075ºF), and its boiling point is 4404 K (4131ºC or 7468ºF) (Elemental).

Uranium’s common naturally occurring isotopes are uranium-234, uranium-235, and uranium-238 (Elemental). Only uranium-235 is a fissionable material that can be used for nuclear power (Elemental). Uranium is naturally radioactive, and is used in the nuclear power industry to generate electricity (Elemental). Uranium generates electricity by getting struck by a neutron causing it to split atoms into smaller fragments and continues if they split into more neutrons (Elemental). Uranium-235 is capable of producing enough free neutrons to sustain a nuclear chain reaction, but 0.7204% is only naturally occurring (Elemental). This means it can not sustain a nuclear reaction by itself, it needs the help of a material called a moderator (Elemental). A moderat...

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...xposure to spray mist may produce respiratory tract irritation leading to frequent attacks of bronchial infection (Science Lab). Repeated exposure to an highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs (Science Lab).

Bibliography
Chemistry Explained, 2013. http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/T-Z/Uranium.html 10/25/2013.
It’s Elemental, 2013. http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele092.html 10/18/2013.
Periodic Table Live Chemical Education Digital Library, 2013. http://www.chemeddl.org/resources/ptl/index.php 10/15/2013.
WebElements: The Periodic Table on the Web, 2013. http://www.webelements.com/uranium/ 10/16/2013. http://www.webelements.com/uranium/isotopes.html 10/20/2013.
Science Lab.com Chemicals & Laboratory Eqiupment http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925390 10/26/2013.

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