Difference between revisions of "Uranium"
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''See also [[Radioactivity]]''<br> | ''See also [[Radioactivity]]''<br> | ||
| − | Uranium is a radioactive element | + | Uranium (U) is a heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element (atomic number 92). Its two principally occurring isotopes are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature, to any appreciable extent, that is fissionable by thermal neutrons. Uranium-238 is also important because it absorbs neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that subsequently decays to the isotope plutonium-239, which also is fissionable by thermal neutrons. |
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| + | Uranium is a radioactive element. It is a dense, metallic substance, and its compounds are highly toxic. | ||
[[Category:Elements]] | [[Category:Elements]] | ||
| + | [[category:energy]] | ||
Revision as of 14:23, June 24, 2007
See also Radioactivity
Uranium (U) is a heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element (atomic number 92). Its two principally occurring isotopes are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature, to any appreciable extent, that is fissionable by thermal neutrons. Uranium-238 is also important because it absorbs neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope that subsequently decays to the isotope plutonium-239, which also is fissionable by thermal neutrons.
Uranium is a radioactive element. It is a dense, metallic substance, and its compounds are highly toxic.