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uranium.txt
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1996-04-08
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Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white element possessing a very radioactive and
oxidizing character. Uranium retains a density of 19.07 grams per cubic
centimeter and a melting point of roughly 1,132 degrees centigrade. With a
boiling point of approximately 3,818 degrees Celsius uranium is not an easy
element to get to a melting or boiling point. The Periodic Table says that uranium
has 92 protons and 146 neutrons thereby acquiring a atomic weight of 238 atomic
mass units. Uranium burns readily in air at 150 to 175 degrees centigrade and at
1,000 degrees Celsius uranium combines with nitrogen to form a yellow nitride.
Uranium is found in such ores as pitchblende and carnotite. In the crust of
the Earth uranium is found at about 2 parts per million. In order words, for every
half million tons of nature one digs up, they can expect to find one ton of uranium,
not an abundant is found. To mine this element, miners will break up and mix
pitchblende with sulfuric and nitric acids. This then breaks the uranium into
uranyl sulfate and with the addition of heat, uranium is then precipitated as
sodium diuranate and collected.
Humans today use uranium to produce nuclear weapons and nuclear
reactors. While producing electrical energy, power plants consume close to 40
million tons of coal per month, while the same output could be obtained by using
only 15 pounds of uranium per month.