Uranium

Uranium (U)

Uranium is the 92nd element in the periodic table and has a symbol of U and atomic number of 92. It has an atomic weight of (238.02891) and a mass number of 238. Uranium has ninety-two protons and one hundred forty-six neutrons in its nucleus, and ninety-two electrons in seven shells. It is located in group Actinides, period seven and block f of the periodic table. White radioactive metallic element belonging to the actinoids. Three natural isotopes, U-238, U-235 and U-234. Uranium-235 is used as the fuel for nuclear reactors and weapons. Discovered by Martin H. Klaproth in 1789.
Atomic Number92
Atomic Weight238.02891
Mass Number238
Group
Period7
Blockf
Protons92 p+
Neutrons146 n0
Electrons92 e-
Animated Bohr Model of U (Uranium)

Physical Properties

Atomic Radius
175 pm
Molar Volume
Covalent Radius
170 pm
Metallic Radius
Ionic Radius
102.5 pm
Crystal Radius
116.5 pm
Van der Waals Radius
241 pm
Density
19.1 g/cm³
Atomic Radii of the Elements: Uranium0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250pmAtomic RadiusCovalent RadiusMetallic RadiusVan der Waals Radius

Chemical Properties

Energy
Proton Affinity
995.2 kJ/mol
Electron Affinity
Ionization Energy
6.19405 eV/particle
Ionization Energies of U (Uranium)
Heat of Vaporization
417 kJ/mol
Heat of Fusion
12.6 kJ/mol
Heat of Formation
533 kJ/mol
Electrons
Electron Shells2, 8, 18, 32, 21, 9, 2
Bohr Model: U (Uranium)
Valence Electrons2
Lewis Structure: U (Uranium)
Electron Configuration[Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 5f3 6d1 7s2
Enhanced Bohr Model of U (Uranium)
Orbital Diagram of U (Uranium)
Oxidation States-1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Electronegativity
1.7
Electrophilicity Index
States of Matter
PhaseSolid
Gas Phase
Boiling Point
4,404.15 K
Melting Point
1,408.15 K
Critical Pressure
Critical Temperature
Triple Point
Visual

Uranium is a Silver. U has a CPK of #ff1493, Jmol of #008fff, and MOLCAS GV of #008fff.

Color
Silver
Appearance
Refractive Index
Thermodynamic Properties
Thermal Conductivity
27.5 W/(m K)
Thermal Expansion
0.0000139 1/K
Molar Heat Capacity
27.665 J/(mol K)
Specific Heat Capacity
0.116 J/(g⋅K)
Heat Capacity Ratio (Adiabatic Index)
Electrical Properties
TypeConductor
Electrical Conductivity
3.6 MS/m
Electrical Resistivity
0.00000028 m Ω
Superconducting Point
0.69 K
Magnetism
Typeparamagnetic
Magnetic Susceptibility (Mass)
0.0000000216 m³/Kg
Magnetic Susceptibility (Molar)
0.00000000514 m³/mol
Magnetic Susceptibility (Volume)
0.000411
Magnetic Ordering
Curie Point
Neel Point
Structure

The Crystal Structure of Uranium is ORC. The lattice constant of U is 2.85 Å. The lattice angles of Element 92 are π/2, π/2, π/2.

Crystal StructureBase Centered Orthorhombic (ORC)
Lattice Constant
2.85 Å
Lattice Anglesπ/2, π/2, π/2
Mechanical Properties

Uranium has a Brinell of 2400 MPa, Mohs hardness of 6 MPa, and Vickers of 1960 MPa. The Bulk Modulus of U is 100 GPa. The Shear Modulus of Element 92 is 111 GPa. The Young Modulus of Uranium (U) is 208 GPa. The Poisson Ratio of Uranium is 0.23. The Speed of Sound of U is 3155 m/s.

Hardness
6 MPa
Bulk Modulus
100 GPa
Shear Modulus
111 GPa
Young's Modulus
208 GPa
Poisson Ratio
0.23
Speed of Sound
3,155 m/s
Classification

The Glawe Number of Uranium is 36. The Mendeleev Number of U is 20. The Pettifor Number of Element 92 is 45. The Geochemical Class of Uranium (U) is rare earth & related. The Goldschmidt Class of Uranium is litophile.

CategoryActinides, Actinides
CAS Group
IUPAC Group
Glawe Number36
Mendeleev Number20
Pettifor Number45
Geochemical Classrare earth & related
Goldschmidt Classlitophile

Other

The Gas Basicity of Uranium is 973.2 kJ/mol. The Dipole Polarizability of U is 129 plus or minus 17 a₀. The Allotropes of Element 92 is . The Neutron Cross Section of Uranium (U) is 7.57. The Neutron Mass Absorption of Uranium is 0.0005. The Quantum Numbers of U is 5L6. The Space Group of Element 92 is 63 (Cmcm).

Gas Basicity
973.2 kJ/mol
Dipole Polarizability
129 ± 17 a₀
C6 Dispersion Coefficient
Allotropes
Neutron Cross Section
7.57
Neutron Mass Absorption
0.0005
Quantum Numbers5L6
Space Group63 (Cmcm)

Isotopes of Uranium

Stable Isotopes0
Unstable Isotopes29
Natural Isotopes3
Isotopic Composition23899.27%23899.27%2340.01%2340.01%2350.72%2350.72%

215U

Mass Number215
Neutron Number123
Relative Atomic Mass
215.026719774 ± 0.000111794 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
1.4 ± 0.9 ms
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2015
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

216U

Mass Number216
Neutron Number124
Relative Atomic Mass
216.024762829 ± 0.000030158 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
6.9 ± 2.9 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year2015
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

217U

Mass Number217
Neutron Number125
Relative Atomic Mass
217.02466 ± 0.000086 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
850 ± 710 us
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year2000
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β (β decay)

218U

Mass Number218
Neutron Number126
Relative Atomic Mass
218.023504877 ± 0.000014722 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
354 ± 91 us
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1992
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

219U

Mass Number219
Neutron Number127
Relative Atomic Mass
219.025009233 ± 0.000014319 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
60 ± 7 us
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1993
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

220U

Mass Number220
Neutron Number128
Relative Atomic Mass
220.024706 ± 0.000108 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

221U

Mass Number221
Neutron Number129
Relative Atomic Mass
221.026323297 ± 0.00007744 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
660 ± 140 ns
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2015
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

222U

Mass Number222
Neutron Number130
Relative Atomic Mass
222.026057957 ± 0.000055817 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.7 ± 0.7 us
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1983
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

223U

Mass Number223
Neutron Number131
Relative Atomic Mass
223.027960754 ± 0.000063396 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
65 ± 12 us
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1991
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

224U

Mass Number224
Neutron Number132
Relative Atomic Mass
224.027635913 ± 0.000016383 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
396 ± 17 us
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1991
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

225U

Mass Number225
Neutron Number133
Relative Atomic Mass
225.02938505 ± 0.000010664 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
62 ± 4 ms
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1989
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

226U

Mass Number226
Neutron Number134
Relative Atomic Mass
226.029338669 ± 0.000011884 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
269 ± 6 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1973
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%

227U

Mass Number227
Neutron Number135
Relative Atomic Mass
227.031181124 ± 0.000009136 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
1.1 ± 0.1 m
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1952
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)

228U

Mass Number228
Neutron Number136
Relative Atomic Mass
228.031368959 ± 0.000014465 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
9.1 ± 0.2 m
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)97.5%
ϵ (electron capture)2.5%

229U

Mass Number229
Neutron Number137
Relative Atomic Mass
229.033505976 ± 0.000006374 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
57.8 ± 0.5 m
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)80%
α (α emission)20%

230U

Mass Number230
Neutron Number138
Relative Atomic Mass
230.033940114 ± 0.000004841 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
20.23 ± 0.02 d
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1948
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
22Ne4.8%
SF (spontaneous fission)

231U

Mass Number231
Neutron Number139
Relative Atomic Mass
231.03629218 ± 0.000002866 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.2 ± 0.1 d
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
ϵ (electron capture)100%
α (α emission)0.004%

232U

Mass Number232
Neutron Number140
Relative Atomic Mass
232.037154765 ± 0.000001941 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
68.9 ± 0.4 y
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1949
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
24Ne (heavy cluster emission)8.9%
SF (spontaneous fission)2.7%
28Mg5%

233U

Mass Number233
Neutron Number141
Relative Atomic Mass
233.039634294 ± 0.00000242 Da
G-Factor
-0.236 ± 0.02
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
159.19 ± 0.15 ky
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
3.663 ± 0.008
Discovery Year1947
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)6%
24Ne (heavy cluster emission)7.2%
28Mg1.3%

234U

Mass Number234
Neutron Number142
Relative Atomic Mass
234.040950296 ± 0.000001212 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
0.0054 ± 0.0005
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
245.5 ± 0.6 ky
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1912
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)1.64%
28Mg1.4%
26Ne9%

235U

Mass Number235
Neutron Number143
Relative Atomic Mass
235.043928117 ± 0.000001198 Da
G-Factor
-0.10857142857143 ± 0.0085714285714286
Abundance
0.7204 ± 0.0006
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
704 ± 1 My
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
4.936 ± 0.006
Discovery Year1935
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)7%
20Ne8%
25Ne8%
28Mg8%

236U

Mass Number236
Neutron Number144
Relative Atomic Mass
236.04556613 ± 0.000001193 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
23.42 ± 0.04 My
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1951
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)9.4%

237U

Mass Number237
Neutron Number145
Relative Atomic Mass
237.048728309 ± 0.00000129 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
6.752 ± 0.002 d
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1940
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

238U

Mass Number238
Neutron Number146
Relative Atomic Mass
238.050786936 ± 0.000001601 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
99.2742 ± 0.001
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.463 ± 0.003 Gy
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1896
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
α (α emission)100%
SF (spontaneous fission)5.44%
(double β decay)2.2%

239U

Mass Number239
Neutron Number147
Relative Atomic Mass
239.054291989 ± 0.000001612 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
23.45 ± 0.02 m
Spin5/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1937
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

240U

Mass Number240
Neutron Number148
Relative Atomic Mass
240.056592411 ± 0.00000274 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
14.1 ± 0.1 h
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1953
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
α (α emission)

241U

Mass Number241
Neutron Number149
Relative Atomic Mass
241.06033 ± 0.00021 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)

242U

Mass Number242
Neutron Number150
Relative Atomic Mass
242.062931 ± 0.000215 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
16.8 ± 0.5 m
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1979
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

243U

Mass Number243
Neutron Number151
Relative Atomic Mass
243.067075 ± 0.000322 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin9/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
Uranium2

History

Uranium was discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth. In 1841, Eugène-Melchior Péligot isolated the first sample of uranium metal by heating uranium tetrachloride with potassium. Antoine Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity by using uranium in 1896. Named after the planet Uranus

DiscoverersMartin Klaproth
Discovery LocationGermany
Discovery Year1789
Etymology (Name Origin)Named for the planet Uranus.
Pronunciationyoo-RAY-ni-em (English)
Uranium is toxic and highly radioactive
Uranium-235 was the first isotope that was found to be fissile

Uses

Uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Uranium is used as a colorant in uranium glass, producing orange-red to lemon yellow hues. It was also used for tinting and shading in early photography. The major application of uranium in the military sector is in high-density penetrators. For many centuries it was used as a pigment for glass. Now it is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors and in bombs.

Sources

Occurs in many rocks, but in large amounts only in such minerals as pitchblende and carnotite.

Abundance
Abundance in Earth's crust
2.7 mg/kg
Natural Abundance (Oceans)
0.0032 mg/L
Natural Abundance (Human Body)
0.0000001 %
Natural Abundance (Meteor)
0.00000098 %
Natural Abundance (Sun)
0.0000001 %
Abundance in Universe
0.00000002 %

Nuclear Screening Constants

Also Known As

  • U
  • element 92

Translations

  • Frenchuranium
  • Norwegian Bokmåluran
  • GermanUran
  • Italianuranio
  • Spanishuranio
  • Dutchuranium
  • Afrikaansuraan
  • Amharicዩራኒየም
  • Arabicيورانيوم
  • AsturianUraniu
  • AzerbaijaniUran
  • Belarusianуран
  • Bulgarianуран
  • Banglaইউরেনিয়াম
  • BretonUraniom
  • Bosnianuranij
  • Catalanurani
  • CherokeeᏳᏪᏂᎥᎻ
  • Central Kurdishیورانیۆم
  • CorsicanUraniu
  • Czechuran
  • ChuvashУран
  • WelshWraniwm
  • Danishuran
  • Greekουράνιο
  • Esperantouranio
  • Estonianuraan
  • Basqueuranio
  • Persianاورانیم
  • Finnishuraani
  • Northern FrisianUraan
  • FriulianUrani
  • Western FrisianUranium
  • IrishÚráiniam
  • GalicianUranio
  • ManxUraanium
  • Hakka Chineseuranium
  • Hebrewאורניום
  • Fiji HindiUranium
  • Croatianuranij
  • Haitian CreoleIranyòm
  • Hungarianurán
  • Armenianուրան
  • Interlinguauranium
  • Indonesianuranium
  • Idouranio
  • Icelandicúran
  • Japaneseウラン
  • Lojbanjinmrvurani
  • JavaneseUranium
  • KazakhУран
  • Kannadaಯುರೇನಿಯಮ್
  • Korean우라늄
  • Komi-PermyakУран
  • KomiУран
  • Latinuranium
  • LuxembourgishUran
  • LigurianUrannio
  • Lithuanianuranas
  • Latvianurāns
  • Macedonianураниум
  • Malayalamയുറേനിയം
  • Mongolianуран
  • Marathiयुरेनियम
  • Western MariУран
  • Malayuranium
  • Burmeseယူရေနီယမ်
  • nahIlhuicateōtepoztli
  • Low GermanUran
  • Norwegian Nynorskuran
  • NavajoŁéétsoh
  • Occitanurani
  • Polishuran
  • Western Panjabiیورینیم
  • Portugueseurânio
  • QuechuaUranyu
  • Romanianuraniu
  • Russianуран
  • Sanskritयूरानियम
  • YakutУраниум
  • Sicilianuraniu
  • Serbo-CroatianUranijum
  • Sinhalaයුරේනියම්
  • Slovakurán
  • Slovenianuran
  • Albanianurani
  • Serbianуранијум
  • Saterland FrisianUran
  • Swedishuran
  • Swahiliurani
  • Tamilயுரேனியம்
  • Thaiยูเรเนียม
  • TagalogUranyo
  • Turkishuranyum
  • Uyghurئۇران
  • Ukrainianуран
  • Urduیورینیئم
  • VepsUran
  • Vietnameseurani
  • WarayUranyo
  • KalmykУранум
  • Yiddishאוראניום
  • YorubaÙráníọ̀m
  • Chinese
  • English (Canada)Uranium
  • English (United Kingdom)uranium
  • Portuguese (Brazil)urânio
  • German (Switzerland)Uran
  • Cantonese
  • Georgianურანი
  • Ladinouranio
  • Scotsuranium
  • CebuanoUranyo
  • Odiaୟୁରାନିଅମ
  • Gujaratiયુરેનિયમ
  • Punjabiਯੂਰੇਨੀਅਮ
  • Tatarуран
  • PiedmonteseUrani
  • Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China)
  • Chinese (China)
  • Swiss GermanUran
  • Literary Chinese
  • Belarusian (Taraskievica orthography)уран
  • Pashtoيورانيم
  • ErzyaУран
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Chinese (Taiwan)
  • AromanianUraniu
  • UzbekUran
  • LimburgishUranium
  • cdo
  • FaroeseUran
  • Malteseuranju
  • Newariयुर्यानियम
  • Hindiयूरेनियम
  • LombardUranio
  • Scottish GaelicUranium
  • Nepaliयुरेनियम
  • Teluguయురేనియం
  • Min Nan ChineseUranium
  • Goan Konkaniयुरेनियम
  • SundaneseUranium
  • Bhojpuriयुर्यानियम
  • Tibetanཡུ་རེ་ནིམ།
  • Jamaican Creole EnglishYuurieniom
  • Chinese (Macao SAR China)
  • Chinese (Malaysia)
  • Chinese (Singapore)
  • azbاورانیوم
  • Paliयुर्यानियम
  • KyrgyzУран
  • XhosaI-uranium
  • kbpƱranɩyɔm
  • ShonaYurenyamu
  • Lingua Franca Novauranio
  • Wu Chinese
  • oloUruanu
  • Santaliᱭᱩᱨᱮᱱᱤᱭᱟᱢ
  • TajikУран (элемент)
  • SardinianUràniu
  • RusynУран (елемент)
  • Moroccan Arabicأورانيوم
  • BashkirУран (элемент)
  • Egyptian Arabicيورانيوم
  • Cornishuraniom
  • lldUranie
  • BikolUranyo
  • BalineseUranium
  • Malay (Arabic)اورانيوم
  • VenetianUrànio
  • MalagasyOraniôma
  • GandaYulaniyaamu
  • Church SlavicОуранїѥ
  • Kashmiriیورینِیَم
  • Korean (North Korea)우라니움