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U
Element Nr. 92

Uranium

actinide solid Entdeckt 1789
238.029 Atomgewicht (u)
1135 °C Schmelzpunkt
4131 °C Siedepunkt
19.1 g/cm3 Dichte
1.38 Elektronegativität
[Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2 Elektronenkonfiguration
7 Periode
3 Gruppe

📖 Über Uranium

The heaviest naturally occurring element and the fuel for nuclear power. Natural uranium is 99.3% U-238 and 0.7% U-235. Only U-235 is readily fissile. Enrichment increases the U-235 fraction: reactor fuel is 3-5% U-235, weapons-grade is over 90%. One kilogram of enriched uranium contains as much energy as about 3 million kg of coal.

🔧 Verwendungen und Anwendungen

  • Nuclear reactor fuel (enriched UO2 pellets)
  • Nuclear weapons (highly enriched)
  • Depleted uranium armor-piercing ammunition
  • Counterweights in aircraft (historically)
  • Geological age dating (uranium-lead method)

💡 Wusstest du?

Fakt: The energy in just 7 grams of uranium fuel (a single pellet) equals that from 564 liters of oil, 481 kg of coal, or 481 cubic meters of natural gas. A typical nuclear power plant uses about 27 tonnes of fuel per year to power a million homes.