Uranium is also used, in its depleted form, as a bullet. since depleted uranium has a density of nearly twice that of lead, it is commonly used to bust open the armor of heavily fortified vehicles.
Density of Lead: 11.34 g/cm^3 Density of Depleted Uranium: 19.10 g/cm^3 |
WeaponryUranium was first used in the creation of weapons. When it was discovered that by splitting an atom an immense amount of energy is releases, it was soon after someomne learned how to split a uranium atom, and the Manhatten Project was born during WWII in the USA to combat the German threat, and the succeded in creating the first nuclear bombs made. The uranium bombs worked by splitting an atom through fission, and this was achieved by firing uranium at more uranium. Modern warheads use fusion reactions, creating a much mor powerfull blast. the work by using both uranium and plutonium and putting them under immense pressure with explosives, fusing their nuclei together and releasing substantial energy.
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EnergyUranium is also used in the process of creating nuclear power, which is becoming more and more common. It works by using nuclear fusion reactions the boil water in excessive amounts at a fast rate, in order to create a fast moving current of steam to power a turbine, which is hooked up to a generator to create the energy. Many people think that large cone like towers are where the reation happens, but in fact those giant pillars are just for cooling!
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Yellow Cake
The most used compound containing uranium is U3O8, or "Yellow Cake". it is used as reactor fuel, and is created in the following reactions:UO3(s) + 2H+(aq) → UO22+(aq) + H2O
UO22+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) → UO2(SO4)34-(aq)
2 R3N(org) + H2SO4(aq) → (R3NH)2SO4(org)
(R3NH)2SO4(org) + UO2(SO4)34-(aq) → (R3NH)4UO2(SO4)3(org) + 2SO42-(aq)
After those reactions, it is mixed with ammonium diuranate, and U3O8 is precipitated.
UO22+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) → UO2(SO4)34-(aq)
2 R3N(org) + H2SO4(aq) → (R3NH)2SO4(org)
(R3NH)2SO4(org) + UO2(SO4)34-(aq) → (R3NH)4UO2(SO4)3(org) + 2SO42-(aq)
After those reactions, it is mixed with ammonium diuranate, and U3O8 is precipitated.