Uranium Research Paper

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Uranium (yUH-RAY-nee-um) is a chemical element with an atomic number of 92. It is a silvery white metal that belongs to the actinide family. A uranium atom has 92 protons along with 92 electrons, 6 of those electrons are known as valence electrons. “Uranium is also the heaviest and last naturally occurring element.”(chemistry explained.com) At one point in time uranium wasn’t known for any use. “It wasn’t until World War II (1939-45) that it amounted to no more than a few hundred metric tons of Uranium that was used”.(Chemistry explained.com). Not very many people truly know how uranium came about and what it is used for.

First, A German chemist named Martin Klaproth was credited with the discovery of Uranium from (1743-1817). Little did people know that Klaproth was actually studying a common ore called Pitchblende (uranium oxide); at the time, scientists thought that pitchblende was an ore of iron and zinc. Little did they know that the small portion of the ore they found did not behave the way iron or zinc was expected to. “Klaproth concluded that he found a …show more content…
Considering the electron configuration of the element is (1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p64f115d106s26p65f 36d17s2). Isn’t that a mouth full! Did you know that there are a lot of myths about uranium? I couldn’t believe it either at first but it’s true. One myth is “Uranium mines and mills increase radon levels in the environment.”..... Well, it is a fact that studies have shown that uranium mining and milling activities do not increase radon levels in the environment. Another good myth is “uranium mining and processing are linked to stillbirths, birth defects, and cancers” but there is no worry. Uranium mining does not cause stillbirths, birth defects or cancer in humans or animals.(cna.ca). Did you know that Uranium’s melting point is 1,132.3oC (2,070.1oF)? That is really hot!!! Even though its density is only about 19.05 grams per cubic

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