U
238.030Uranium
Uranyum
Uranium is a dense radioactive actinide with atomic number 92. It is known for uranium-235 fission, uranium-238, nuclear fuel, uranium enrichment, U-Pb dating, depleted uranium and the discovery of radioactivity.
92
238.03 g/mol
[Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 32 | 21 | 9 | 2
1.38
18.95 g/cm³
1132.2 °C
4130.9 °C
Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth and named after the planet Uranus. Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity in 1896 while studying uranium salts, and uranium later became central to nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.
Uranium-234
Natural abundance: About 0.005%. Half-life: About 245,000 years. Minor natural isotope in the uranium-238 decay chain.Uranium-235
Natural abundance: About 0.72%. Half-life: About 7.04 x 10⁸ years. Naturally occurring fissile isotope used in reactors and weapons.Uranium-238
Natural abundance: About 99.27%. Half-life: About 4.47 x 10⁹ years. Dominant natural uranium isotope; fertile isotope that can breed plutonium-239.UO₂
Uranium DioxideCeramic nuclear fuel pellet material.UF₆
Uranium HexafluorideVolatile compound used in uranium enrichment.U₃O₈
Triuranium OctoxideYellowcake concentrate form in uranium processing.- Uranium dioxide fuel pellets for nuclear reactors
- Uranium-235 fission in reactors and nuclear weapons
- U-Pb geochronology for dating zircon, meteorites and ancient rocks
- Uranium hexafluoride in isotope enrichment processes
- Depleted uranium for dense shielding and some armor-penetrating munitions
Uranium has no essential biological role. Its chemical toxicity, especially to the kidneys, and its radiological hazard both matter in exposure assessment.
- Becquerel’s work with uranium salts led to the discovery of radioactivity.
- Natural uranium is mostly U-238; the fissile U-235 isotope is less than 1%.
- U-Pb dating is one of the most important tools for determining the age of Earth’s oldest rocks.
- Uranium glass can fluoresce green under ultraviolet light.
- Uranium has atomic number 92 and symbol U.
- Its electron configuration is [Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s².
- U-235 is fissile; U-238 is fertile.
- Remember uranium for nuclear fuel, enrichment, radioactivity and U-Pb dating.
What is the atomic number of uranium?
The atomic number of uranium is 92.
What is the electron configuration of uranium?
Uranium has the electron configuration [Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s².
What is uranium used for?
Uranium is used in nuclear fuel, isotope dating, enrichment chemistry, dense shielding and some military materials.
What is uranium-235?
Uranium-235 is the naturally occurring fissile uranium isotope used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
What is uranium-238?
Uranium-238 is the dominant natural uranium isotope and can breed plutonium-239 after neutron capture.
What is U-Pb dating?
U-Pb dating uses uranium decay to lead isotopes to determine the ages of minerals such as zircon.