Uranium

	Uranium is a silvery-white element possessing a very radioactive and 

oxidizing character.  Uranium retains a density of 19.07 grams per cubic 

centimeter and a melting point of roughly 1,132 degrees centigrade.  With a 

boiling point of approximately 3,818 degrees Celsius uranium is not an easy 

element to get to a melting or boiling point.  The Periodic Table says that uranium 

has 92 protons and 146 neutrons thereby acquiring a atomic weight of 238 atomic 

mass units.  Uranium burns readily in air at 150 to 175 degrees centigrade and at 

1,000 degrees Celsius uranium combines with nitrogen to form a yellow nitride.  

	Uranium is found in such ores as pitchblende and carnotite.  In the crust of 

the Earth uranium is found at about 2 parts per million.  In order words, for every 

half million tons of nature one digs up, they can expect to find one ton of uranium, 

not an abundant is found.  To mine this element, miners will break up and mix 

pitchblende with sulfuric and nitric acids.  This then breaks the uranium into 

uranyl sulfate and with the addition of heat, uranium is then precipitated as 

sodium diuranate and collected.

	Humans today use uranium to produce nuclear weapons and nuclear 

reactors.  While producing electrical energy, power plants consume close to 40 

million tons of coal per month, while the same output could be obtained by using 

only 15 pounds of uranium per month.