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uranium
[ yoo-rey-nee-uhm ]
noun
- a white, lustrous, radioactive, metallic element, occurring in pitchblende, and having compounds that are used in photography and in coloring glass. The 235 isotope is used in atomic and hydrogen bombs and as a fuel in nuclear reactors. : U; : 238.03; : 92; : 19.07.
uranium
/ ʊˈɪɪə /
noun
- a radioactive silvery-white metallic element of the actinide series. It occurs in several minerals including pitchblende, carnotite, and autunite and is used chiefly as a source of nuclear energy by fission of the radioisotope uranium-235 . Symbol: U; atomic no: 92; atomic wt: 238.0289; half-life of most stable isotope, 238U: 451 × 10 9years; valency: 2-6; relative density: 18.95 (approx.); melting pt: 1135°C; boiling pt: 4134°C
uranium
- A heavy, silvery-white, highly toxic, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series. It has 14 known isotopes, of which U 238 is the most naturally abundant, occurring in several minerals. Fissionable isotopes, especially U 235, are used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Atomic number 92; atomic weight 238.03; melting point 1,132°C; boiling point 3,818°C; specific gravity 18.95; valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- See Periodic Table
uranium
- A chemical element that is naturally radioactive . An isotope of uranium, uranium 235, is the main fuel for nuclear reactors and atomic bombs (see also atomic bomb ). Its symbol is U. ( See fission and chain reaction .)
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of uranium1
Compare Meanings
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Example Sentences
Iran has said it is open to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions easing but has insisted it will not stop enriching uranium.
It has now stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs if it chose to do so - something it says it would never do.
Nuclear weapons require uranium which has been enriched to 90% purity.
Iran subsequently ignored some of the deal's restrictions and enriched more and more uranium nuclear fuel.
However, Iran has increasingly breached restrictions imposed by the existing nuclear deal, in retaliation for crippling US sanctions reinstated seven years ago, and has stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs.
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