Uranium- Information for Poster

Name- Uranium
Symbol- U
Atomic Number- 92
Atomic Mass- 238.02891
Protons- 92
Electrons- 92
Neutrons- 146
Melting point- 1132.0c
Boiling point- 3838.0c
Normal phase of element- solid
Density- 19.050
Atomic Radius- 175pm
Classification- metal (actinide metal)
Location- Period 7, Group 6
Valence Electrons- 6
Properties- Heavy, silvery white metal, malleable, ductile and paramagnetic

● Who discovered uranium- Uranium was discovered by Martin Klaproth, a German

chemist, in the Joachimsthal silver mines in present day Czechia.
● When was uranium discovered- 1789
● Uranium in the Earth- Uranium is speculated to have been produced in a supernova 6
billion years ago. Other theories suggest that uranium was formed when neutron
stars collided.. It’s found in earth’s crust in deposits of soil, rock, and water.
● How was uranium discovered- Uranium was discovered in the mineral pitchblende
(mix of uranium oxides). The substance that Martin Klaproth extracted was not pure
Uranium, instead it was Uranium Dioxide (UO2). French chemist, Eugène-Melchoir
Péligot isolated pure uranium by heating uranium dioxide with potassium. This led to
the discovery of radioactivity in 1896 when it was detected in a sample of uranium.
● Origin of the name- This discovery was named ‘Uran’ after the planet Uranus in
honor of its discovery, which was only 8 years earlier.
 Did You Know??? Uranium occurs in different forms known as Isotopes, the most
common being Uranium-238 and Uranium-235.

● Nuclear Energy- A special form of uranium known as U-235 is used in nuclear power
plants for nuclear fusion as its atoms easily split apart. Nuclear fission is a process
in which a neutron collides with uranium and splits it, releasing a large amount of
energy (heat and radiation). This creates a nuclear chain reaction which provides a
source of energy.
● Military Uses- Uranium is used in the nuclear reactors that run naval ships,
submarines and in nuclear weapons. Depleted uranium (mainly composed of U-238)
is used to make bullets, counterbalances in aircraft, tank armor, and gyroscopic
compasses.
● Medical Uses- Scientists have developed a new system to target cancer cells using
uranium (U-230). Since this isotope emits radioactive alpha particles, it helps to decay
cancer cells.
● Scientific Applications- Uranium is used for radiometric dating (calculating age of
rocks), in high energy X-rays, (Uranium nitrate is used as a photographic toner) and
for radiation shielding.
● Prior to the 1970s, many companies used radionuclides to color glazes. The most
common radionuclides was uranium. These glazes were used on floor and wall tiles,
pottery and ceramics. Uranium was used in the glazes on Cloisonné jewelry to make
orange, yellow and green colors. Some Fiestaware produced before 1973 used depleted
uranium to create the color of the glaze.
● glassmakers used small amounts of uranium to create yellow or green glass. Under
an ultraviolet, uranium causes the glass to glow bright green.
● Uranium was used to create the first atomic bomb used in World War II. This bomb
was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
● Yellowcake is made up of uranium dioxide and emits high doses of uranium. It is used
in nuclear reactors.
● Uranium-235 which is used in nuclear power plants is rare in earth's surface
accounting for only 0.7% of natural uranium