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uranium

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-white metal that is found in nature.

Uranium is a radioactive element, which means that it breaks down over time and releases energy. This energy can be used to generate electricity or to create nuclear weapons.

Uranium is not found in large amounts in nature, but it is mined in many countries around the world. The United States, Canada, Australia, and Russia are the leading producers of uranium.

How can the word be used?

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element.

uranium

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • uranium (a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92).
  • uranium ore (a mineral that contains uranium).
  • uranium dioxide (a radioactive oxide of uranium).

Adjective:

  • uranium-based (made from or containing uranium).
  • uranium-enriched (containing a higher concentration of uranium-235 than natural uranium).

Etymology

The word "uranium" comes from the Latin word "Uranus", which is the name of the Greek god of the sky. The element was named after Uranus because it was discovered in pitchblende, a mineral that was also named after Uranus.

Uranium was first discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth, a German chemist. Klaproth was studying pitchblende when he found a new element that he called uranium.

Question

Where can you mine for uranium?