Uranium (U) Fun Facts

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Superhero Identity

"The Nuclear Powerhouse, the hero who fuels the world's nuclear reactors but also has a dark, explosive potential."

The true essence of Uranium (U) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

Uranium is a heavy, silvery-white, weakly radioactive metal.

Everyday Connection

Uranium is found in the fuel rods in a nuclear power plant.

In Pop Culture

Uranium is the key element for both nuclear power and atomic bombs � central to Cold War-era fiction.

Did You Know?

1

It was named after the planet Uranus, which had been discovered just eight years prior to the element's discovery in 1789.

2

It is the heaviest element to be found naturally in significant quantities on Earth.

3

A single pound of highly enriched uranium can release as much energy as 1.5 million kilograms (3 million pounds) of coal.

4

Depleted uranium, which is about 40% less radioactive than natural uranium, is extremely dense and is used for armor-piercing bullets and protective armor on tanks.

5

A type of yellow-green glass called Vaseline glass or uranium glass, which glows brightly under a blacklight, contains uranium dioxide.