Uranium
Uranium is one of the minerals listed on the periodic table and found all over the world. Since its discovery, it has been used for many purposes. Today it is generally used in the military, medicine, and for electrical power. In its natural state, uranium poses little threat to the environment. After uranium is taken from the ground and enriched, the radiation from the mineral can cause problems for human health and the environment. While it is invisible, the radiation can last in the body and the environment for a long time. Uranium is the heaviest metal in nature. This silvery metal carries the atomic number 92. It is "radioactive," which means it breaks apart or decays at the atomic level. When uranium decays, bursts of energy called atomic radiation is given off. That break down of atoms changes uranium into other radioactive elements. Called radioactive decay, the process results in the emission of alpha or beta particles from the nucleus. They usually are given off with gamma radiation, which is like x-rays. This means that they transform into other elements by emitting particles. Most of the by-products are radioactive solids but one, radon is a radioactive gas. The radiation
Uranium is usually found as an ore body in hard rock or in sandstone. When the mysteries of the atom were unlocked, no one knew the problems that would come with it. , Uranium, A discussion Guide Questions and Answers, (1996) the National Film Board of Canada. Radiation breaks the chemical bonds of living cells. When it is enriched, a process that increases the concentration of uranium, it is transformed into either uranium 235 or uranium 238 isotopes. It can be used to save lives, but it can also kill many people. The release of radon gas into the air if in an enclosed space for a number of years can also pose health problems. Lung cancer is one of the most common diseases caused by inhaling radon gas, one of uranium's byproducts. When uranium is used for fuel, accidents at the nuclear reactors can also occur. Department of Energy, Albuquerque, NM.
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