Is depleted uranium radioactive

Answer 1

Yes, depleted uranium is radioactive, but it is not as radioactive as naturally occurring uranium as it is refined after mining the ore. Depleted uranium is uranium that is "left over" after some of the U-235 isotope has been removed in a process called enrichment. You'll recall that the U-235 is sought after as a fuel in nuclear reactors and as the energy source in nuclear weapons. We might see a quote that depleted uranium is only about 60% as radioactive as natural uranium.

Depleted uranium is used in military vehicle armor and in armor-piercing projectiles. The use of this type of projectile can create dust that can be inhaled or enter the water or food supply. Uranium presents a hazard as a heavy metal poison as well as a radiation hazard, and debate continues over the use and long term effects of expenditure of these rounds. A link can be found below for more information to assist you in continuing research.

Answer 2

If we mine uranium ore out of the ground and process it to recover the pure element, this heavy metal will appear in three isotopic forms. The U-238 isotope will comprise the bulk of the sample at about 99.284%, the U-235 isotope will be present as about 0.711%, and a trace of the U-236 isotope will be present. It is U-235 that is the "most useful" isotope as it is naturally fissionable, and the natural uranium will be processed to increase the amount of the U-235 in the finished product, which is then called enriched uranium. (The percentage might be increased a little, or a lot, depending on what is being called for and the time and ability of the supplier to perform the enrichment operation.) The uranium that is "left over" after the enriched uranium is carted off is called depleted uranium.

The difference between the uranium and depleted uranium might be best understood by considering all of this. Natural uranium is put through a process called enrichment, which yields enriched and depleted uranium.

Natural uranium is uranium where the U-235 content is approximately 0.72 % (atomic), while depleted uranium has been processed and the U-235 content is under 0.72 % (atomic). A link to check facts and discover additional information can be found below.

Answer 3

Depleted uranium is not more radioactive than natural uranium. Depending on the degree to which it has been processed to remove other isotopes of uranium, it will be lessradioactive. A link to a related question can be found below.

Answer 4

No, the specific activity of radium is greater; also radium is more dangerous.