URANIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a dense, silvery-grey metal that belongs to the actinide series of elements. Uranium is primarily known for its widespread use as a fuel in nuclear power plants and for the production of nuclear weapons. As a highly versatile element, uranium has different isotopes, with uranium-235 and uranium-238 being the most commonly occurring ones.
In terms of its natural occurrence, uranium is found in small quantities in Earth's crust, usually combined with other elements in ore minerals. It is mainly extracted from uranium ore, commonly known as pitchblende or uraninite. The process of extracting uranium from the ore involves various chemical and physical methods, including crushing, grinding, leaching, and refining.
Uranium holds immense importance in nuclear power generation. Through the process of nuclear fission, uranium-235 can be used as a fuel in nuclear reactors to generate electricity. When properly enriched, uranium-235 undergoes a controlled chain reaction, releasing a significant amount of energy in the form of heat. This heat is used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.
However, it is essential to handle and store uranium with utmost care due to its radioactive nature. Radioactive decay of uranium produces harmful radiation, posing potential health and environmental risks. Consequently, strict regulations and safety procedures must be followed during the mining, processing, and disposal of uranium and its byproducts.
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A metallic element, symbol U, atomic weight 238.5, occurring mainly in pitchblende from which it was first isolated by Klaproth in 1789; a hard heavy metal of gray or black color, feebly radioactive.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A metal obtained from several minerals in the from of a powdery substance of a greyish-black colour with a metallic lustre, preparations of which are used for imparting fine orange tints to glass and porcelain enamel.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for URANIUM *
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Other Common Misspellings for URANIUM
Etymology of URANIUM
The word "uranium" derives from the planet Uranus, which was discovered in 1781. The element was first identified in 1789 by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth, who named it after Uranus as a way of paying homage to the recent discovery of the new celestial body. The name "uranium" was chosen to reflect the discovery's connection to the heavens and the sense of newness and excitement surrounding the field of astronomy at that time.
Similar spelling words for URANIUM
- eka-uranium,
- aornum,
- urinemia,
- urman,
- uranium-enrichment,
- yourname,
- uranium-233,
- uranium-240,
- actino-uranium,
- IRNAM,
- uranium-green,
- urinæmia,
- uranium-235,
- ORNAME,
- uroneme,
- arnim,
- ARRNUM,
- Urinaemia,
- uranium-orange,
- depleted-uranium,
- Urenium,
- arnheim,
- uranium-lead,
- uranium-bloom,
- IRUNMU,
- uranium-ocher,
- ORNME,
- uranium-238,
- EURONEM,
- uranium-234,
- uranium-steel,
- Errhinum,
- uranium-yellow,
- uranium-bearing,
- eurynome,
- Araneum,
- uraninite,
- aeronomy,
- oranim,
- uranami,
- Arnhem,
- Arunima,
- Erineum,
- urinome,
- IRGNM,
- ORNAM,
- uranium-232,
- uranium-ochre,
- wernham,
- uranium-239,
- yarnemia.
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