Uranium

By: Josiah Kim

Where is Uranium found on the Periodic Table of Elements?

Right there. Element number 92.

General Information•Element name: Uranium

•Symbol: U

•Atomic number: #92

•Density: 19.05 g/cc

•Melting point: 1408°K (1135°C)

•Boiling point: 4403°K (4130°C)

•Atomic weight: 238.029

•Atomic Volume: 12.59cm³/mol

General Information•State of Matter: Solid

•Color: Silvery-white

•Classification: Radioactive rare earth element (Actinide Series)

•Name origin: After the planet Uranus

•Where can it be found: In various places. Like pitchblende, carnotite, cleveite, autunite, uraninite, uranophane, tobernite, phosphate rock, lignite, monazite sand

•Discoverer: Martin Klaproth.

•Date of Discovery: 1789 in Berlin, Germany.

Description of Uranium

•Is heavy

•Is malleable

•Is lustrous

•Is dense

•Is radioactive

•Is a metal

•Is silvery-white

•Is a solid

•Is ductile

•Is slightly paramagnetic

Uses of uranium•One way uranium is used is to help harden and strengthen steel

•Another way uranium is used for is in gyrocompasses, compasses that find true north

•Uranium is also used as counterweights for planes’ control surface

•Uranium is used for x-rays and nuclear weapons also

•Depleted uranium is used to protect tanks

Interesting factsDid you know…?

•… that the fist atomic bomb used in warfare was an uranium bomb?!?!•… that the world production of uranium is 35,000 tons (35,0000,000 kg)?!?!

•… that only one ton of natural uranium can make more than 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity?!?! That’s equal as to burning 16,000 tons of coal or as equal to burning 80,000 barrels of oil!!!!!!!

•… that uranium that is the size of a gallon milk jug weighs over 150 lbs (about 60 kg)?!?!

Hazardous effects to the environment, animals, and humans•Contaminates river systems and ground water by the radioactive uranium dissolving into it

•The radioactive dust moves which goes in water, in plants, into animals and humans

•If it can go into us humans, we can get damage in our lungs, kidneys, bones, and many other places. Eventually, this will lead to diseases like cancer or leukemia

•The uranium can leave tailings which pollute the air or water and then get into animals or humans

More random facts•Uranium has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in the nucleus

•Is ranked 48th for most abundant element in natural crustal rock

•Acids can dissolve uranium

•When uranium is exposed to air, the uranium becomes coated with a layer of oxide

•Uranium compounds are highly toxic. So be careful.

Bibliography- InformationEdwards, Gordon. “Uranium.” Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. 26

April, 2010 < http://www.ccnr.org/nfb_uranium_3.html#G.1.>

Helmestine, Anne Marie. “Uranium Facts.” About.com. 25 April, 2010 <http://chemis try. about.com/od/elementfacts/a/uranium.htm>

“Uranium.” Periodic table of the Element. 25 April, 2010 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/ele ments/92.html>

“Uranium.” Visual Elements.” 25 April, 2010 <http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelem ents/pages/uranium.html>

“Uranium Element Facts.” ChemiCool. 25 April, 2010 <http://www.chemicool.com/el ements/uranium.html>

“Uranium-U.” Lenntech. 25 April, 2010 <http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ u.htm>

“Uranium.” Periodic Table of the Elements. 25 April, 2010 <http://www.radiochemi stry.org/periodictable/elements/92.html>

“Periodic Table of the Elements.” Culture of Life News. 25 April, 2010 <http://em snews.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/battery-systems-using-exotic-energy -sources/>

“Uranium.” 25 April, 2010 <http://periodictable.com/Elements/092/index.html>

Bibliography- Pictures

“Uranium.” Kidipede. 26 April, 2010 <http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforki ds/chemistry/atoms/uranium.htm>

“Speaking of Uranium.” Knoxnews.com. 26 April, 2010 <http://blogs.knoxnews. com/munger/2008/07/>

All done. I hope you enjoyed it.