Uranium is a heavy, reactive, and radioactive element with various industrial uses. It is abundant in nature but access is limited due to its toxicity and potential danger. It is used for nuclear power, weapons, medicine, research, and archaeology. Handling requires caution due to its toxicity and radioactivity.
Uranium is a metallic chemical element classified among the actinides of the periodic table of elements. It is perhaps most famous as a fuel source for nuclear weapons and power plants, but it also has a wide range of uses. Deposits of this element have been found in different regions of the world and the element is quite abundant in nature, keeping prices relatively low under normal conditions. Because this element is toxic and radioactive, and because it has potentially very dangerous uses, access to the world’s supply of uranium is severely limited.
When uranium is isolated from the ores it occurs in, it is a silvery white metal, very heavy, extremely reactive, and somewhat softer than steel. Because this element is so reactive, it quickly forms a thick gray to black cloud when exposed to air. There are 14 known isotopes of uranium, and the element also appears in a number of chemical compounds, some of which have industrial uses. You can find this element on the periodic table of elements by looking for the symbol “U”, or atomic number 92.
Humans have known about this substance for a long time. As early as the 1st century AD, uranium oxide was used in glass and ceramic dyes. The element itself was isolated in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, who named it for the only recently discovered planet Uranus. It took another 100 years for people to realize that this element was radioactive, and it was several more decades for people to recognize radioactivity as a health risk.
The reactivity of this element makes it ideal for making fuel for nuclear power plants, reactors that power submarines and, of course, nuclear weapons. The metal was also used in uranium glass before people realized this use was dangerous, and is used in nuclear medicine, research, and the dating of archaeological finds. Several militaries also use a form of uranium in high-density penetrating shells; this usage has been the subject of controversy, as such rounds can potentially present a health risk if not disposed of properly.
Because uranium is toxic, it must be handled very carefully. It can cause serious organ damage, and its dust can irritate mucous membranes such as those found in the lungs. The radioactivity of the metal is also a health risk, as is the explosivity of the dust. Most people who work around this item are trained to use basic safety precautions to keep their jobs safe.
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