Uranium- U
5 Characteristics
1- Radioactive Metal
2- Ductile and Malleable
3- Silvery-white
4- Dense
5- Highly Reactive
5 Uses
1- A fuel for nuclear power plants.
2- Can Capture a neutron and undergo negative beta decay to become Plutonium.
3- Used in nuclear weapons.
4- Used in nuclear missiles.
5- Used by the military as shielding to protect army tanks.
History
In 1789, Martin Heinrich investigated the mineral pitchblende that turned up in silver mines in Berlin. He first dissolved it in nitric acid, when neutralised it formed a yellow compound. This yellow compound turned out to be the oxide of a new element, then he heated the compound with charcoal in order to produce the metal but it didn't work. In Paris, 1841, Eugene Peligot heated uranium tetrachloride with potassium and was able to produce the first sample of uranium metal.