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'''Uranium''' (U) is a heavy, naturally [[radioactive]], [[metal]]lic [[element]] with an [[atomic number]] of 92. Its two principally occurring [[isotope]]s are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature that is fissionable by thermal [[neutron]]s. 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 [[fission]]able by thermal neutrons.
 
'''Uranium''' (U) is a heavy, naturally [[radioactive]], [[metal]]lic [[element]] with an [[atomic number]] of 92. Its two principally occurring [[isotope]]s are uranium-235 and uranium-238. Uranium-235 is indispensable to the nuclear industry because it is the only isotope existing in nature that is fissionable by thermal [[neutron]]s. 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 [[fission]]able by thermal neutrons.
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"Depleted" Uranium is one of the densest materials known to man; As such, the United States uses it for bullets and tank armor. There are no known serious health risks stemming from external exposure to it.<ref>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050724094117.htm</ref><ref>http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/depletedu/health/index.cfm</ref>
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"Depleted" Uranium is one of the densest materials known to man; As such, the United States uses it for bullets and tank armor. According to the WHO, normal civil or military use of depleted uranium is unlikely to lead to serious health problems. However, depleted uranium remains nonetheless a weakly radioactive, and chemically toxic metal. <ref>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050724094117.htm</ref><ref>http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/depletedu/health/index.cfm</ref><ref>http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs257/en/</ref>
    
==References==
 
==References==
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