Uranium - Revision history

Jmdonev at 21:16, 22 October 2021

2021-10-22T21:16:53Z

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	~~'''Zach, would you mind if Maddy took this one? She's working on a video. - Jason'''~~

	[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]		[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2021-09-27T00:02:47Z

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energy>Luisa at 22:20, 9 September 2021

2021-09-09T22:20:00Z

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	[[Category:~~Done 2017-07-01~~]]		[[Category:Maddy edit]]
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			'''Zach, would you mind if Maddy took this one? She's working on a video. - Jason'''

	[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]		[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2017-08-29T01:47:21Z

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Jmdonev at 21:47, 15 August 2017

2017-08-15T21:47:49Z

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	[[Category:Done ~~2016~~-12-31]]		[[Category:Done 2017-07-01]]
	[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]		[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Uranium''' is the 92<sup>nd</sup> [[element]] on the [[periodic table of elements\|periodic table]], and is the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth.<ref name=ucdavis>UC Davis Chem Wiki. (June 17, 2015). ''Nuclear Reactions'' [Online]. Available: http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Nuclear_Reactions</ref> It is known for being an abundant source of concentrated [[energy]],<ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 22 2015). ''What is Uranium?'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Introduction/What-is-Uranium--How-Does-it-Work-/</ref> with the largest [[energy density]] of any of the world's [[fuel]]s used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]].</onlyinclude>		<onlyinclude>'''Uranium''' is the 92<sup>nd</sup> [[element]] on the [[periodic table of elements\|periodic table]], and is the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth.<ref name=ucdavis>UC Davis Chem Wiki. (June 17, 2015). ''Nuclear Reactions'' [Online]. Available: http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Nuclear_Reactions</ref> It is known for being an abundant source of concentrated [[energy]],<ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 22 2015). ''What is Uranium?'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Introduction/What-is-Uranium--How-Does-it-Work-/</ref> with the largest [[energy density]] of any of the world's [[fuel]]s used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]].</onlyinclude>

	Uranium is found relatively commonly on the Earth, with an abundance of 2.8 parts per million in the [[cross section of the Earth\|crust]].<ref name=nfc>N. Tsoulfanidis, "Nuclear Fuel Resources, Mining, and Milling" in ''The Nuclear Fuel Cycle'', 1st ed., La Grange Park, Illinois: American Nuclear Society, 2013, ch.2, sec.1, pp. 28-56</ref> This makes it more common than gold, as common as tin, and less common than [[copper]]. 99.3% of the uranium found on Earth is Uranium-238 which is "[[fertile]]", while the rest (0.7%) is Uranium-235, a "[[fissile]]" fuel. Therefore only a very small amount of the uranium found naturally can be used in a [[nuclear fission]] process unless it undergoes an [[uranium enrichment\|enrichment process]], which increases the concentration of Uranium-235, or the Uranium-238 is "bred" from its fertile form into a fissile isotope of [[plutonium]]. Read more about breeding [[breeder reactor\|here]].		Uranium is found relatively commonly on the Earth, with an abundance of 2.8 [[parts per million]] in the [[cross section of the Earth\|crust]].<ref name=nfc>N. Tsoulfanidis, "Nuclear Fuel Resources, Mining, and Milling" in ''The Nuclear Fuel Cycle'', 1st ed., La Grange Park, Illinois: American Nuclear Society, 2013, ch.2, sec.1, pp. 28-56</ref> This makes it more common than gold, as common as tin, and less common than [[copper]]. 99.3% of the uranium found on Earth is Uranium-238 which is "[[fertile]]", while the rest (0.7%) is Uranium-235, a "[[fissile]]" fuel. Therefore only a very small amount of the uranium found naturally can be used in a [[nuclear fission]] process unless it undergoes an [[uranium enrichment\|enrichment process]], which increases the concentration of Uranium-235, or the Uranium-238 is "bred" from its fertile form into a fissile isotope of [[plutonium]]. Read more about breeding [[breeder reactor\|here]].

	==Uranium as a fuel==		==Uranium as a fuel==

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2017-01-08T23:36:28Z

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Jmdonev at 23:21, 20 November 2016

2016-11-20T23:21:56Z

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	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-09-06]]		[[Category:Done 2016-12-31]]
	[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]		[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]

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	The use of these bombs has been extremely controversial since their detonation, as they killed hundreds of thousands of people. This destructive use of nuclear power has probably affected how people have viewed the rare few nuclear disasters in [[Chernobyl]], [[Fukushima]], and [[Three Mile Island]]. Overall, this has left a very [[public attitudes towards energy sources#Support for nuclear power\|negative view of nuclear energy]] in a large portion of the general population.		The use of these bombs has been extremely controversial since their detonation, as they killed hundreds of thousands of people. This destructive use of nuclear power has probably affected how people have viewed the rare few nuclear disasters in [[Chernobyl]], [[Fukushima]], and [[Three Mile Island]]. Overall, this has left a very [[public attitudes towards energy sources#Support for nuclear power\|negative view of nuclear energy]] in a large portion of the general population.

			==Video==
			The video below is from the University of Nottingham's [http://www.periodicvideos.com/ periodic videos project].<ref>See more videos from the University of Nottingham on different elements here: http://www.periodicvideos.com/</ref> They have created a complete suite of short videos on every element on the [[periodic table of elements]].

			<html>
			<iframe width="816" height="459" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B8vVZTvJNGk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
			</html>

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-09-18T16:51:13Z

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Jhanania at 20:24, 3 September 2015

2015-09-03T20:24:54Z

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:31:46Z

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	[[Category:Done 2015-07-24]]		[[Category:Done 2015-09-06]]
	[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]		[[File:URANIUM.png\|200px\|thumb\|Figure 1. Uranium, [[atomic number]] 92 and [[atomic weight]] of 238.02891.<ref>Made internally by a member of the Energy Education team. Information from the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW), Available: http://www.ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Uranium''' is the 92<sup>nd</sup> [[element]] on the [[periodic table of elements\|periodic table]], and is the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth.<ref name=ucdavis>UC Davis Chem Wiki. (June 17, 2015). ''Nuclear Reactions'' [Online]. Available: http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Nuclear_Reactions</ref> It is known for being an abundant source of concentrated [[energy]],<ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 22 2015). ''What is Uranium?'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Introduction/What-is-Uranium--How-Does-it-Work-/</ref> with the largest [[energy density]] of any of the world's [[fuel]]s used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]].</onlyinclude>		<onlyinclude>'''Uranium''' is the 92<sup>nd</sup> [[element]] on the [[periodic table of elements\|periodic table]], and is the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth.<ref name=ucdavis>UC Davis Chem Wiki. (June 17, 2015). ''Nuclear Reactions'' [Online]. Available: http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Nuclear_Chemistry/Nuclear_Reactions</ref> It is known for being an abundant source of concentrated [[energy]],<ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 22 2015). ''What is Uranium?'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Introduction/What-is-Uranium--How-Does-it-Work-/</ref> with the largest [[energy density]] of any of the world's [[fuel]]s used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]].</onlyinclude>

	Uranium is found relatively commonly on the Earth, with an abundance of 2.8 parts per million in the [[cross section of the Earth\|crust]].<ref name=nfc>N. Tsoulfanidis, "Nuclear Fuel Resources, Mining, and Milling" in ''The Nuclear Fuel Cycle'', 1st ed., La Grange Park, Illinois: American Nuclear Society, 2013, ch.2, sec.1, pp. 28-56</ref> This makes it more common than gold, as common as tin, and less common than copper. 99.3% of the uranium found on Earth is Uranium-238 which is "[[fertile]]", while the rest (0.7%) is Uranium-235, a "[[fissile]]" fuel. Therefore only a very small amount of the uranium found naturally can be used in a [[nuclear fission]] process unless it undergoes an [[uranium enrichment\|enrichment process]], which increases the concentration of Uranium-235, or the Uranium-238 is "bred" from its fertile form into a fissile isotope of [[plutonium]]. Read more about breeding [[breeder reactor\|here]].		Uranium is found relatively commonly on the Earth, with an abundance of 2.8 parts per million in the [[cross section of the Earth\|crust]].<ref name=nfc>N. Tsoulfanidis, "Nuclear Fuel Resources, Mining, and Milling" in ''The Nuclear Fuel Cycle'', 1st ed., La Grange Park, Illinois: American Nuclear Society, 2013, ch.2, sec.1, pp. 28-56</ref> This makes it more common than gold, as common as tin, and less common than [[copper]]. 99.3% of the uranium found on Earth is Uranium-238 which is "[[fertile]]", while the rest (0.7%) is Uranium-235, a "[[fissile]]" fuel. Therefore only a very small amount of the uranium found naturally can be used in a [[nuclear fission]] process unless it undergoes an [[uranium enrichment\|enrichment process]], which increases the concentration of Uranium-235, or the Uranium-238 is "bred" from its fertile form into a fissile isotope of [[plutonium]]. Read more about breeding [[breeder reactor\|here]].

	==Uranium as a fuel==		==Uranium as a fuel==
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	===Acquisition and Processing===		===Acquisition and Processing===
	[[File:Pichblende.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Figure 2. Uraninite, also known as Pitchblende, is a commonly mined ore.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Pichblende.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Pichblende.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Figure 2. Uraninite, also known as Pitchblende, is a commonly mined ore.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Pichblende.jpg</ref>]]
	[[File:Jason1.png\|350px\|thumb\|Figure 3. Fuel rod bundle of the CANDU uranium fuel with [[who we are\|Jason Donev]] for scale.<ref>This image is from the private collection of a member of the energy education team.</ref> This bundle, if full and in a CANDU reactor would provide all of the [[electricity]] needs a family of 4 in Canada for 100 years.]]		[[File:Jason1.png\|350px\|thumb\|Figure 3. Fuel rod bundle of the CANDU uranium fuel with [[who we are\|Jason Donev]] for scale.<ref>This image is from the private collection of a member of the energy education team.</ref> This bundle, if full and in a [[CANDU reactor]] would provide all of the [[electricity]] needs a family of 4 in Canada for 100 years.]]

	Uranium can be harvested from the Earth by [[uranium mining]], however the practicality of its harvesting depends on many factors. Available technology and total cost must be considered when developing a mining project, and the grade of the ore must also make the project cost-effective.<ref name=nfc/> Once the ore has been mined (Figure 2), it undergoes processing in which the uranium is turned into a desirable form. Some nuclear reactors, such as the [[CANDU]], can use uranium in its natural composition. However most reactors require the uranium to be enriched, which means that the concentration of Uranium-235 is increased from 0.7% to about 5%.<ref name=wna/>		Uranium can be harvested from the Earth by [[uranium mining]], however the practicality of its harvesting depends on many factors. Available [[technology]] and total cost must be considered when developing a mining project, and the grade of the ore must also make the project cost-effective.<ref name=nfc/> Once the ore has been mined (Figure 2), it undergoes processing in which the uranium is turned into a desirable form. Some nuclear reactors, such as the [[CANDU]], can use uranium in its natural composition. However most reactors require the uranium to be enriched, which means that the concentration of Uranium-235 is increased from 0.7% to about 5%.<ref name=wna/>

	Enrichment of uranium allows power plants to use [[light water]] (ordinary water) as its coolant and moderator, since the enrichment increases the number of nuclear reactions in the reactor. After enrichment, the uranium is formed into small fuel pellets, and loaded into a fuel rod. These are assembled into fuel bundles, as seen in Figure 2. These fuel bundles are placed directly into a reactor's core, ready for fission.		Enrichment of uranium allows power plants to use [[light water]] (ordinary water) as its coolant and moderator, since the enrichment increases the number of nuclear reactions in the reactor. After enrichment, the uranium is formed into small fuel pellets, and loaded into a fuel rod. These are assembled into fuel bundles, as seen in Figure 2. These fuel bundles are placed directly into a reactor's core, ready for fission.
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	===Use and Generation of Electricity===		===Use and Generation of Electricity===

	Once the uranium is assembled, it can be used in a reactor to produce heat. A common misconception is that nuclear power ~~plants~~ magically convert their fuel directly into electricity, however their operation once the heat is generated is nearly identical to an ordinary [[coal-fired power plant]]. Depending on the type of reactor, the heat is transferred to circulating water which boils to [[steam]] either directly (i.e. the [[RBMK]] reactor) or indirectly (i.e. [[pressurized water reactor]]). This pressurized steam can then be used to spin a large [[turbine]] and [[generator]], supplying [[electricity]] for the world's needs.		Once the uranium is assembled, it can be used in a reactor to produce heat. A common misconception is that [[nuclear power plant]]s magically convert their fuel directly into electricity, however their operation once the heat is generated is nearly identical to an ordinary [[coal-fired power plant]]. Depending on the type of reactor, the heat is transferred to circulating water which boils to [[steam]] either directly (i.e. the [[RBMK]] reactor) or indirectly (i.e. [[pressurized water reactor]]). This pressurized steam can then be used to spin a large [[turbine]] and [[generator]], supplying [[electricity]] for the world's needs.

	As mentioned, the [[isotope]] Uranium-235 is fissile. This means that it undergoes nuclear fission upon absorption of a [[neutron]], which gives off lots of [[energy]] in the form of [[heat]]. However, Uranium-235 isn't the only isotope that can provide heat in a reactor. By the process of [[transmutation]], Uranium-238 can be converted to Plutonium-239 through a series of [[beta decay]]s. Plutonium-239 is fissile just like Uranium-235, and the fissioning of it supplies additional power. For a light water reactor like a [[BWR]] or a [[PWR]], it's around 1/3 of the power, and around 1/2 of a CANDU reactor's energy.<ref name=wna/>		As mentioned, the [[isotope]] Uranium-235 is fissile. This means that it undergoes nuclear fission upon absorption of a [[neutron]], which gives off lots of [[energy]] in the form of [[heat]]. However, Uranium-235 isn't the only isotope that can provide heat in a reactor. By the process of [[transmutation]], Uranium-238 can be converted to Plutonium-239 through a series of [[beta decay]]s. Plutonium-239 is fissile just like Uranium-235, and the fissioning of it supplies additional power. For a light water reactor like a [[BWR]] or a [[PWR]], it's around 1/3 of the power, and around 1/2 of a CANDU reactor's energy.<ref name=wna/>
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	Radioisotopes are also used for the '''food industry''', as they can preserve food, kill parasites, and control the ripening of fruits and vegetables.<ref name=wna/>		Radioisotopes are also used for the '''food industry''', as they can preserve food, kill parasites, and control the ripening of fruits and vegetables.<ref name=wna/>

	'''Industrially''' they are used for safety as they can detect leaks, provide analysis of minerals and fuels, and uranium can work as a radiation shield.<ref>Jefferson Lab. (June 23 2015). ''Uranium'' [Online], Available: http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele092.html</ref> The radioactive element Americium is used in smoke detectors as well.		'''Industrially''' they are used for safety as they can detect leaks, provide analysis of minerals and fuels, and uranium can work as a radiation shield.<ref>Jefferson Lab. (June 23 2015). ''Uranium'' [Online], Available: http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele092.html</ref> The [[radioactive]] element Americium is used in smoke detectors as well.

	===Weaponry===		===Weaponry===
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	The key difference between nuclear weapons and fuel used in reactors is the grade of the fuel. Mentioned earlier is that the enrichment of the Uranium-235 must be around 5% for many reactors, which in itself is a complicated task. For ''bombs'', this enrichment must be around '''90%'''.<ref name=hypp>Hyperphysics. (June 23 2015). ''Uranium Bomb'' [Online], Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/bomb.html#c3</ref> This fact has helped control the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as it makes it difficult for an ordinary group of people to develop such a high grade of uranium.		The key difference between nuclear weapons and fuel used in reactors is the grade of the fuel. Mentioned earlier is that the enrichment of the Uranium-235 must be around 5% for many reactors, which in itself is a complicated task. For ''bombs'', this enrichment must be around '''90%'''.<ref name=hypp>Hyperphysics. (June 23 2015). ''Uranium Bomb'' [Online], Available: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/bomb.html#c3</ref> This fact has helped control the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as it makes it difficult for an ordinary group of people to develop such a high grade of uranium.

	The first nuclear bomb ever detonated in combat was called the "Little Boy", developed during the Manhattan Project and detonated over Hiroshima. It used two pieces of sub-critical Uranium-235, which upon detonation smashed into each other, producing an uncontrollable [[nuclear chain reaction]] and yielding ~~a force~~ equal to 13 000 [[short ton]]s of TNT.<ref name=nf/> The second, and final bomb ever detonated in combat was called the "Fat Man" which made use of highly enriched plutonium, yielding a ~~force~~ equal to 20 000 tons of TNT.<ref name=nf/>		The first nuclear bomb ever detonated in combat was called the "Little Boy", developed during the Manhattan Project and detonated over Hiroshima. It used two pieces of sub-critical Uranium-235, which upon detonation smashed into each other, producing an uncontrollable [[nuclear chain reaction]] and yielding an energy release equal to 13 000 [[short ton]]s of TNT.<ref name=nf/> The second, and final bomb ever detonated in combat was called the "Fat Man" which made use of highly enriched plutonium, yielding a release of energy equal to 20 000 tons of TNT.<ref name=nf/>

	The use of these bombs has been extremely controversial since their detonation, as they killed hundreds of thousands of people. This destructive use of nuclear power has probably affected how people have viewed the rare few nuclear disasters in [[Chernobyl]], [[Fukushima]], and [[Three Mile Island]]. Overall, this has left a very [[public attitudes towards energy sources#Support for nuclear power\|negative view of nuclear energy]] in a large portion of the general population.		The use of these bombs has been extremely controversial since their detonation, as they killed hundreds of thousands of people. This destructive use of nuclear power has probably affected how people have viewed the rare few nuclear disasters in [[Chernobyl]], [[Fukushima]], and [[Three Mile Island]]. Overall, this has left a very [[public attitudes towards energy sources#Support for nuclear power\|negative view of nuclear energy]] in a large portion of the general population.