EUraniumCurrent

=Technology= =Science=
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 =Technological uses of Uranium= Uranium is a radioactive metal that can be used for creating reactors for energy or for bombs. It is primarily mined in Canada. Unfortunately, the effects of mining uranium can be seen through the waste that it causes. Much of Canada is full of radioactive waste from the mining of Uranium. Once mined, uranium is converted into one of two forms- uranium dioxide and uranium hexafluoride. While both are used in power plants, uranium hexafluoride can be “enriched”. Enriched uranium is used in nuclear weapons. When uranium is enriched, only 1/6th of it is actually enriched. The other 5/6 is called depleted uranium, and has no use other than triggers for plutonium bombs.

Uranium has uses outside of the nuclear power and military industries as well. Uranium is used in X-Ray production, as a shield for radiation, and as a counterweight in airplanes due to its dense nature. Uranium is also used as a dye for glass, and has been used as such for many centuries.

 =Scientific discoveries of Uranium= Uranium has an atomic number of 92 and an atomic weight of 238.02891. Uranium is the heaviest element that can be formed naturally. Because of this uranium can only be formed in a supernova. This atom has 92 protons, 92 electrons, and 141-146 neutrons. This element is very unstable and it is radioactive and because it is radioactive it is usually found in the form of uranium dioxide (UO2). Uranium can be found in thee different isotopes: uranium-234, uranium-235, and uranium-238. Out of these thee isotopes only uranium-235 can be used as a nuclear power source. The way that power is generated with uranium is by striking each atom with a neutron. When this happens the atom splits into smaller fragments and energy is released in the process. These smaller fragments can then strike other nuclei to start the process over again. The reactions happen so fast that it becomes dangerous and so in order for the reactor to work a moderator is needed to slow the reaction rate but it cannot absorb the neutrons or the atoms. The most common things that are used as moderators are heavy water or graphite. Another reason that moderators are good is because the atoms are more likely to collide if they are moving slow. Uranium-238 can be used for an energy source but first it must be converted to plutonium-239. This happens by having uranium-238 absorb a neutron, which will then convert it into uranium-239, an atom that has a half-life. Because of this half-life the atom will decay into neptunium-239 which will then beta decay into plutonium-239. By doing this uranium-238 can be used as a power source. Uranium-233 is another power source that will work extremely well. One pound of uranium-233 will provide the same amount of energy as burning 1500 tons of coal. The way that you make uranium-233 is by exposing thorium-232 to a neutron so it will convert into thorium-233. Thorium-233 has a half-life and will decay into uranium-233