29 Properties of Uranium (Most Uncommon Facts Shared !)

Uranium (U), atomic number 92, density 19.1 g/cm³, has a melting point of 1135°C. Key isotopes: U-238 (99.3%, half-life 4.468 billion years), U-235 (0.7%, key for nuclear reactors and bombs, half-life 704 million years). Natural occurrence in ores like uraninite. Primary use in nuclear power generation and military applications.

Basic Properties of Uranium

Property	Description
Atomic Number	92
Atomic Mass	238.02891 u
State at Room Temperature	Solid
Density	18.95 g/cm3
Number of electrons	92
Number of protons	92
Number of neutrons	146
Period	7
Group	Actinides
Discovery	Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789
Cost	~$110 per pound U3O8

Image credit : James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Physical Properties of Uranium

Property	Description
Melting Point	1132.2°C
Boiling Point	4131°C
Solubility	Insoluble in water
Electrical Conductivity	Highly conductive
Magnetism	Paramagnetic
Color	Silver grey
Odor	Odorless
Hardness	6 on Mohs scale
Vapor Pressure	1 mm Hg at 2164°C
Viscosity	N/A (solid at room temperature)
Surface Tension	N/A (solid at room temperature)
Refractive Index	N/A
Specific Heat Capacity	0.116 J/g°C
Thermal Expansion	13.4 μm/(m·K)

Chemical Properties of Uranium

Property	Description
Reactivity	Reacts slowly with cold water
Flammability	Flammable as fine particles
pH	N/A
Oxidation States	Primarily +4, +5, +6
Electronegativity	1.38
Corrosion Resistance	Highly corrosion resistant
Chemical Stability	Fairly stable under normal conditions
Heat of Combustion	N/A
Rate of Reaction	Slow reaction rates
Acid-Base Behavior	Amphoteric
Redox Potential	Complex redox chemistry

Uranium Spectroscopic Properties

Property	Description
Absorption Spectrum	Strongly absorbs thermal neutrons
Emission Spectrum	Yellow-green luminescence
NMR Properties	Paramagnetic shifts and broadening

Uranium Crystallographic Properties

Property	Description
Crystal Structure	Orthorhombic
Unit Cell Dimensions	a=2.854 Å, b=5.869 Å, c=4.955 Å

Uranium Electronic Properties

Property	Description
Band Gap	Estimated at 1.5 eV
Electrical Resistivity	27 μΩ·cm at 20°C

Uranium Isotopic Composition

Isotope	Abundance (%)	Half-life	Decay Mode
U-238	99.2745	4.468 billion years	α decay to Th-234
U-235	0.7200	703.8 million years	α decay to Th-231
U-234	0.0055	245,500 years	α decay to Th-230

Discovery Details of Uranium

Detail	Description
Discoverer	Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Year	1789
Origin of Name	Named after the planet Uranus

Interesting Facts on Uranium

• Uranium is weakly radioactive and contributes to natural background radiation.
• It has the highest atomic weight of the primordially occurring elements.
• Uranium’s radioactivity can cause biological damage through gamma rays and alpha particles, requiring strict safety protocols.
• The handling and transport of uranium are regulated by international agreements to prevent its use in illicit activities

Applications of Uranium

Industrial Uses

• Radioactive Dating: Uranium-lead dating for determining the age of the Earth.
• Ballast: In aircraft’s control surfaces and counterweights.

Medical Uses

• Radiation Therapy: As a source in radiation therapy for cancer treatment, using uranium-derived radionuclides.

Agricultural Uses

• Fertilizers: Not directly used, but phosphate fertilizers can contain trace amounts of uranium.

Energy Production

• Nuclear Power Plants: Uranium-235 is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors for electricity generation.
• Nuclear Weapons: Uranium-235 and Uranium-233 are used in nuclear weapons.

Technology and Electronics

• High-Density Penetrators: Uranium’s high density makes it suitable for military projectiles and tank armor.

Environmental Applications

• Bioremediation: Research into using uranium-metabolizing microorganisms to clean up uranium-contaminated water.

Safety Precautions for Uranium

• Radiation Protection: Use of lead aprons or remote handling tools in environments with high radiation levels.
• Chemical Safety: Gloves and protective clothing to prevent chemical exposure.
• Respiratory Protection: Use of respirators in dusty or aerosol-generating operations.
• Storage: Store in secure containers, away from unauthorized access and environmental release.
• Disposal: Follow specific regulations for the disposal of radioactive materials to minimize environmental contamination.