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Uranium
Uranium is a heavy element with the atomic number 92 and the symbol U. In 1789 it was discovered in the mineral pitchblende by Martin Heinrich Klaproth , who named it after the planet Uranus
586 Questions
You use it to create energy, either by:
1: Nuclear Fission: Split a nucleus of a uranium atom into lighter nuclei, which produces massive energy often in several gigawatts. Although used as a way to make nuclear bombs, it is by far considered an ineffective way to fully utilize the full potential of uranium.
2: Nuclear Fusion: A.K.A. "the power of the sun", occurs when uranium/plutonium atoms' nuclei merge to form a heavier nucleus. Compared to nuclear fission, nuclear fusion is more effective at creating more energy per atom of uranium & generates few wastes.
3: Depleted Uranium: When nuclear fission is continued, a used up hunk of uranium remains. These can be used as heavy caliber rounds for modern tanks like the British Challenger or The American M1 Abrams. Depleted Uranium rounds are able to pierce any contemporary modern armor like "a hot knife through butter"
*Uranium energy is usually classified into the gigawatts class, and one gigawatt=1 billion watts. Since one kilowatt (1000 watts)=1.34 horse power, a gigawatt is the equivalent of 134,000,000 horsepower.*
Who are the top uranium importing countries?
The top uranium importing countries are currently the United States, China, and France. These countries rely on imported uranium to fuel their nuclear power plants and meet their domestic energy needs.
Uranium is found at low concentrations in ore, which has to be treated by milling and then chemical means to obtain Uranium oxide at about 75 percent, called Yellowcake. This would normally be done close to the mining site, and the yellowcake is then packed into sealed metal drums. These can be transported by whatever means are appropriate to the country of destination, by road, rail, or sea.
Generally the Uranium will need to be enriched, that is have the proportion of U235 increased to 3-4 percent for nuclear power use, or much more for weapons use. This is done nowadays using gas centrifuges, the uranium oxide yellowcake being first converted to gaseous uranium hexafluoride. after this it is turned back into the oxide form, and eventually into small cylinders of the right size to make up the fuel rods required. This process of enrichment requires a high level of technology and is not widespread, only a few countries have the knowledge to do it at present. These UO2 cylinders are then made into fuel rods and hence fuel assemblies. These can then be transported with suitable packing to the power station site where they are to be used.
There is no particular difficulty with the transport, though precautions will certainly be taken with regard to security.
How is uranium used in a power plant?
Uranium is used in a power plant to fuel nuclear fission reactions in the reactor core. The energy released during these reactions is used to heat water, which creates steam to drive turbines and generate electricity. The process is controlled to ensure safe and efficient energy production.
Does uranium come from Uranus?
This conclusion can not be drawn from planet name Uranus, Uranus is a gaseous planet and what is in its core it is unknown we have very little knowledge about its inner part but chances of presence of Uranium are very rare.
What causes Uranium to be radioactive?
Uranium is radioactive because it is an unstable element with a nucleus that can undergo radioactive decay. During this decay process, uranium releases energy in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma radiation as it transforms into other elements over time. This radioactive decay is what makes uranium useful for nuclear energy and weapons.
Enriched uranium uranium 235 or uranium 238?
Enriched uranium is still usually mainly 238U, but it has a higher percentage of 235U than the natural abundance. Depleted uranium is exactly the opposite: it's got a LOWER than normal amount of 235U.
Calculate mass of uranium from 175.5 of uranium hexafluoride?
To calculate the mass of uranium, we need to know the molar mass of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which is approximately 352 g/mol. Given that the sample has 175.5 g of UF6, we can calculate the mass of uranium by multiplying the molar mass of uranium by the ratio of the molar mass of uranium to the molar mass of UF6 (238.03 g/mol / 352 g/mol) and then multiplying by the mass of UF6 provided. This would result in approximately 119.196 g of uranium in 175.5 g of UF6.
How much does a uranium case weigh?
The weight of a uranium case will vary depending on its size and thickness, but typically a small case of uranium would weigh around several pounds. It is important to handle uranium with extreme care and follow all safety protocols when working with it.
How much does uranium cost per cubic meter?
Cubic meter is not an unit for uranium.
The price of natural uranium as U3O8 is approx. 90 US $/kg.
What is the density of Uranium hexafluoride at stp?
The chemical formula of uranium hexafluoride is UF6.
Why is there uranium in concrete?
Uranium is a naturally occurring metal, and, as such, is often found in the Earth's crust, although quantities have diminished considerably since the Earth's formation. Concrete, comprising primarily of rocks mined from the Earth's crust, will occasionally contain a sample of uranium therefore. Also, other heavy atoms may be forced to take on a few additional protons in very rare circumstances, often owing to the immense heat and pressure involved in the creation of limestone and other such rocks. Consequently, uranium occasionally can be found in concrete.
What is the physical state of Uranium?
Uranium is a natural chemical element, metal, solid.
The atomic number is 92 and the atomic weight is 238,02891(3).
Most abundant isotope of uranium is?
More than 99%of naturally occurring uranium is U-238. The valuable U-235 makes up less than 1% of uranium, and must be "enriched" in complicated processes.
How much of the US use of uranium?
Used for what?
- light water moderated reactors typically use 3% U-235 enriched uranium
- heavy water moderated reactors can use 0.72% U-235 natural uranium
- graphite moderated reactors use from 0.72% U-235 natural uranium to 93.5% U-235 enriched uranium depending on the exact reactor design
- fast (unmoderated) reactors (some research reactors and breeder reactors) need at least 20% U-235 enriched uranium, with 93.5% U-235 enriched uranium being most common
- nuclear uranium fission bombs need at least 20% U-235 enriched uranium, with 93.5% U-235 enriched uranium being most common (the WW2 Littleboy bomb used 80% U-235 enriched uranium)
- nuclear plutonium fission bombs use plutonium, not uranium
- both uranium and plutonium fission bombs use a 0.2% to 0.71% depleted uranium tamper
- many nuclear fusion bombs use an outer casing made of either 0.2% to 0.71% depleted uranium or 0.72% U-235 natural uranium to increase yield by up to a factor of 10
- some armor penetrating bullets use 0.2% U-235 depleted uranium
- some tank armor uses 0.2% U-235 depleted uranium
- civilian uses such as: radiation shielding, pigments/dyes, aircraft trim weights, industrial products, racing sailboat keels, etc. use either 0.2% to 0.71% depleted uranium or 0.72% U-235 natural uranium
- etc.
Or perhaps you actually meant used up. Again used up in what? In reactors the percentage of U-235 used up before the fuel rods are replaced is called burnup; while in fission bombs the percentage of U-235 or Pu-239 used up before the bomb blows itself apart (self dissembles) stopping fission is called efficiency.
- plutonium production reactors cycle fuel through the core very rapidly to produce as pure Pu-239 as possible without undesired heavier isotopes have very low burnup of well under 1% of the U-235 in the fuel
- power reactors typically have burnup of about 25% of the U-235 in the fuel although a few designs can achieve 50% burnup
- nuclear uranium fission gun bombs like the WW2 Littleboy bomb typically have an efficiency of 1% to 2% of the U-235 in the fuel
- nuclear uranium fission implosion bombs have an efficiency of 10% to 37% of the U-235 in the fuel depending on design (the 1952 Ivy King half megaton test shot was the highest yield & highest efficiency pure fission bomb ever built at 37% efficient)
- boosted nuclear uranium fission implosion bombs can probably double to triple their efficiency so they probably have an efficiency of 30% to 80% of the U-235 in the fuel depending on design; note all boosted fission bomb designs that I am aware of used plutonium, not uranium
- etc.
Why is uranium a non- renewable fuel?
Uranium is considered a non-renewable fuel because it is a finite resource that is extracted from the earth's crust. Once uranium is mined and used in nuclear reactors, it cannot be replenished at a rate that matches its consumption. This makes it unsustainable in the long term for energy production.
Uranium can be conserved by reducing its usage in nuclear reactors through improved efficiency, recycling spent fuel, and developing alternative energy sources. Additionally, regulating the mining and extraction of uranium and promoting awareness about the importance of conserving this non-renewable resource can help in its conservation.
What two elements are produced when an atom of uranium 235 is split?
The results are not always the same, what is actually produced varies from one nucleus to another, so the result can only be represented statistically. There is one peak at around atomic mass of 100 and another at around 135. See the link below for a graph and more details
The price of uranium can vary depending on factors such as market demand, supply levels, and geopolitical events. In recent years, the price of uranium has been relatively low due to oversupply in the market and decreased demand for nuclear energy. However, prices can fluctuate based on various economic and political circumstances.
What uses are there for uranium?
Applications of uranium:
- nuclear fuel for nuclear power reactors
- explosive for nuclear weapons
- material for armors and projectiles
- catalyst
- additive for glass and ceramics (to obtain beautiful green or yellow colors)
- toner in photography
- mordant for textiles
- additive for the preparation of biological samples for electron microscopy
- shielding material (depleted uranium)
- ballast (counter weights)
- and other minor applications
What is the half-life of uranium 238?
Alpha disintegration: (4,470 ± 0,020) 109 years Spontaneous fission: (8,20 ± 0,10) 1015 years
What is uraniums malleability?
Uranium is a brittle metal and not known for its malleability. It tends to fracture rather than deform under pressure.
What is the diameter of a uranium 234 nucleus?
The diameter of a uranium-234 nucleus is approximately 15 femtometers (1.5 x 10^-14 meters). This size is based on theoretical models and experimental data on the nuclear size of various isotopes. Uranium-234 is a heavy nucleus with a relatively large size compared to lighter elements.
Applications of uranium:
- nuclear fuel for nuclear power reactors
- explosive for nuclear weapons
- material for armors and projectiles
- catalyst
- additive for glasses and ceramics (to obtain beautiful green colors)
- toner in photography
- mordant for textiles
- shielding material (depleted uranium)
- ballast
- and other minor applications
The price on the spot in June 2011 is approx. 120 US $/kg of the oxide U3O8, nonrefined.
What chemical family is uranium in?
the pereodic table of elements.
rare earth.
other things in that section:
lanthanium,cerium,praseodymium,neodium,promethium,samarium,
europium,gadolinium,terbium,dysprosium,holmium,erbium,thulium,
ytterbium,luttium,actinium,thorium,proacttinium,uranium,neptunium
,plutonium,americium,curium,berkelium,californium,einsteinium,fermium,
mendelevium,nobelium,lawrencium.
