2. Uranium:
Destroyer of worlds
Zack Bolog
History
Name origin: Named in honor of the discovery of the planet Uranus, which was discovered 8 years prior
Location of discovery: Discovered from pitchblende samples from the Joachimsal silver mines in present
day Czech Republic.
Discoverer: Martin Klaproth
Properties:
Number of Protons/Electrons: 92
Number of Neutrons: 146
Classification: Rare Earth
State at room temperature: Solid
Color: Silver/gray
Melting point: 1132.0 Degrees C
Boiling point: 3818.0 Degrees C
Density: 18.95 g/cm3
Major isotopes: U-235 (used in the production of nuclear weapons and reactors) and U-238 (Most
common isotope of Uranium)
Availability: Identified reserves of Uranium have increased by around 100% since the end of 2003, so
availability is high.
Common sources: While Uranium is found all over the Earth, the largest deposits of uranium are found
in Australia, Kazakhstan and Canada.
How can “I” get it: There is an actual market for Uranium, with prices being around $160/kg
Uses: Major uses for Uranium include the fueling of nuclear reactors and more infamously, one of the
major components of the nuclear fission used in the production of nuclear weapons.
Did you Know?:

3. Uranium is found EVERYWHERE on Earth, including the very food that we eat and also our own
tissue!
The weight of a baseball is 5.25 oz…..a Uranium ball of the same dimensions would weigh 8.5
pounds!
Uranium is 40 times more abundant than silver, making cheap husbands the leading cause of
Radiation poisoning amongst housewives (source needed)
Uranium was once used as glass, with a sheet found in Naples, Italy that was dated back to 79
A.D. The glass gives off a greenish/yellow hue:
Sources:
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/u.html
http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/facts/
http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHomeAvailabilityOfUsableUranium
http://www.cameco.com/uranium_101/uranium_science/uranium/
http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/facts/