Uranium is a chemical element with symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-white metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons.
Three reasons Uranium stands out
- 1
Widely used in nuclear power generation and weaponry.
- 2
Glass containing it glows a vivid bright green under ultraviolet light and was fashionable in Victorian tableware.
- 3
Its energy density is roughly 16,000 times greater than coal, making it extraordinarily efficient as a fuel.
Energy locked inside a heavy nucleus
Uranium’s large nucleus can split after absorbing a neutron, releasing energy and additional neutrons. Controlled chains heat power reactors; uncontrolled ones drive weapons. Natural uranium also records geological time, colors some historic glass, and ultimately supplies the radon that can accumulate in buildings.