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Uranium |
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Uranium is a very heavy (dense)
metal which can be used as an abundant source of concentrated
energy. |
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It occurs in most
rocks in concentrations of 2 to 4 parts per million and
is as common in the earth's crust as tin, tungsten and
molybdenum. It occurs in seawater, and could be recovered
from the oceans if prices rose significantly. |
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It was discovered in 1789
by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist, in the mineral called
pitchblende. It was named after the planet Uranus, which
had been discovered eight years earlier. |
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Uranium was apparently formed
in super novae about 6.6 billion years ago. While it is
not common in the solar system, today its radioactive
decay provides the main source of heat inside the earth,
causing convection and continental drift. |
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The high density of uranium
means that it also finds uses in the keels of yachts and
as counterweights for aircraft control surfaces (rudders
and elevators), as well as for radiation shielding. |
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Its melting point is 1132°C.
The chemical symbol for uranium is U. |
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