Uranium was discovered in 1789 by German chemist Martin Clapoth. It is a radioactive element that is found in very small amounts in the environment – scientists call these trace volumes – in the form of rock, soil, water system, as streams, on plants and as dust in the air.
What does uranium look like?
The same silver-white-gray ends as other heavy metals in uranium, search as lead, cadmium or tungsten. And this is also very dense.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calculates that the 10-gram (3.93 in) cube of uranium weighs about 20 kg (44 pounds).
What is uranium used for?
When uranium is not of natural diversity, it may be “rich” or “finished”.
Rich uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors that run naval ships and submarines. Therefore it can be used in nuclear weapons.
Deeplated uranium is used for radiation preservation or as a projector in armor-piresing weapons.
What is uranium enrichment, and how is it done?
Three naturally occurred uranium isotopes are: U-234, U-235 and U-238.
An isotope is a type of atom that varies from the original chemical element, which is in the number of neutrons. The number of protons and electrons remains the same.
In uranium isotopes, the number of “U” belongs to the joint number of protons and neutrons. For example, U-235 isotopes have uranium and 143 neutrons have 92 protons: Sun 92+143 = 235.
The U-235 is the most sph uranium isotopes used in both nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. However, naturally uranium contains only 0.72% U-235, so it must be artificially “rich” to be useful.
Like moving dirt for gold, the U-235 is removed and maintained, while the rest of the uranium is kept separate. The process is repeated mainly until U-235 is not there.
Uranium enriched up to 3.67% U-235 for use in nuclear power is sufficient.
The uranium rich in 90% or more ends to reach the “nuclear boundary capacity” – suitable for use in a weapon.
Uranium in the environment
You can probably find it in the soil in your backyard. IAEA states that the average concentration of natural uranium in the soil is two million per million, which is equivalent to about 0,0002%. This is what you can say a trace zodiac.
In the form of dust in the air, uranium can settle on the surface water of rivers, streams and lakes and then find its way to the bottom of the water, where it already mixes with natural uranium.
When they eat on the grass, livestock consumes uranium, but it is quickly shed again through urine and stool.
Is there uranium in drinking water?
Therefore uranium can be found in ground water. The World Health Organization (WHO) says, “Consumption through drinking water is usually very low.”
But it depends on the concentration of uranium in your drinking water. IAEA says that in some parts of the world, concentrations can be much higher and this causes much more intex of uranium than drinking water than food. For example, uranium consumption in parts of Finland may be tens of micrograms per day.
Is this zodiac carcinogenic for humans, it is not clear. The WHO says that humans and other animal laboratory are inadequate data from studies.
How dangerous is uranium?
Uranium can be a threat to life, but also, depends on your contact in contact with it.
If you are exposed to uranium in the environment outside your body, then experts say external exposure – the risk for your health is low.
Uranium decides as alpha particles, and the skin can block such particles.
Alpha particles are relative and heavier than other forms of atomic radiation and are undueling to penetrate very deeply or through it.
If, however, a person increases a high concentration of uranium, it can cause cancer, affect bones or liver. And if a person breathes a large concentration of uranium, alpha particles are likely to cause lung cancer.
Therefore uranium is a toxic chemical, so any form of consumption will severely damage a person’s organs, especially the kidneys.
Leaking uranium from industry and mining
Some uranium in the environment goes away from industrial functions. Some of it occurs in the environment.
Most of the world’s production of uranium from mines is from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. So but it is mined in Niger and Namibia.
Edited by: John Shelton
The story was updated on 23 June 2025 with a new section on uranium enrichment.
Edited by: Matthew Ward Egius
