Uranium
Uranium (铀, symbol U) is chemical element number 92, an Actinide in period 7 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 238.03. Heaviest naturally occurring element. The primary fuel of nuclear reactors and weapons.
Properties
| Atomic number | 92 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | U |
| Atomic mass | 238.03 u |
| Category | Actinide |
| Period | 7 |
| Group | — |
| Electron configuration | [Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.38 |
| Covalent radius | 196 pm |
| Density | 18.95 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1405.3 K |
| Boiling point | 4404 K |
| Discovery | Martin Heinrich Klaproth, 1789 |
Overview
Heaviest naturally occurring element. The primary fuel of nuclear reactors and weapons. Uranium (symbol U) is chemical element number 92, sitting in period 7 of the periodic table and classed as an Actinide. As an actinide it is typically radioactive and closely tied to nuclear technology.
Its electron configuration is [Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s², with 2 electrons in the outer shell, and an electronegativity of about 1.38 (Pauling). Around 25 °C it is usually a solid; it melts near 1405.3 K (1132.2 °C), boils near 4404 K (4130.9 °C), has a density around 18.95 g/cm³.
In industry and daily life it turns up in Nuclear and Research. It is regarded as a high-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789. See more trends in the visualization center.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 21 · 9 · 2
Main uses
- Nuclear
- Research
Hazard
Compounds containing Uranium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Uranium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.