Uranium, or as it was called earlier, uraniye, is chemical element of a periodic system behind number 92 with the atomic mass of 238.029 g/Mol. Its symbol – Latin letter U, and belongs uranium to family of actinoids.
Instruction
1. This chemical element is known from 1 century BC when handymen used uranium oxide at production of yellow glaze with which they covered ceramics. And "pioneer" of the name of this element in 1789 German Martin Heinrich Klaprot who extracted from the pitch ore brought from Saxony a certain metalsimilar substance which he decided to call in honor of one of the known planets of the Solar system is considered. Then, already in the 1841st, the chemist Eugène Melchior Peligo working in France scientifically proved that the known substance – not a new element, but UO2 oxide. The same scientist could receive and pure uranium. Further experience of the French colleague was picked up by Mendeleyev who made for uranium certain room in the invented table.
2. Natural color of uranium – silver-white and glossy, at the same time metal very heavy. At the same time in pure form it is slightly softer, than steel, quite malleable, is easily bent and has small paramagnetic properties. Physics contains three crystal modifications of this chemical element.
3. Range of oxidation levels of uranium – from +3 and to +6: +3 without oxide and a gibroksid, is strong reducer; +4 gives UO2 oxide, without gibroksid; +5 – also without oxide and hydroxide, disproportsionirut in water; +6 gives UO3 oxide and UO2(OH)2 hydroxide, there is an amphoteric character and is quite steady on air and in water.
4. Uranium has unique and huge heat-generating ability. So one its ton is equal on this property to 1.35 million tons of oil or natural gas. The greatest application was received by isotope of this chemical element 235U which possesses the self-restraining chain nuclear reaction. This isotope is used in nuclear reactors and at production of nuclear weapon. For example, 20 tons of uranium fuel which is received approximately from 153 tons of natural raw materials are necessary for the reactor with a power of 1000 MW which works with 80% loading and develops 7000 GWh in a year.
5. By the way, about extraction of uranium on the planet. According to the estimates of geologists, its stocks in earth crust approximately by 1000 times surpass the amount of gold which is available for the planet and by 30 times – potential reserves of silver. At the same time reserves of uranium are almost similar to a similar indicator at lead and zinc. Ordinary it is got from the soil, rocks, but uranium also contains in sea water. Capacity of already explored fields is about 5.5 million tons.