Other Uranium Compounds in the Nuclear Industry

Some additional uranium compounds that play a role in the nuclear industry are discussed in brief here. 

Uranium hydride The action of hydrogen on uranium at 250°C-300 C can produce a fine powder in the form of UH3 that is a convenient starting material for production of various uranium compounds. 

Uranium carbides UC and UCj can be produced by reaction of carbon monoxide with molten uranium. These gray crystals have high melting points of 2790°C and 2350°C, respectively. U2C3 also exists but decomposes at 1700°C. In principle, uranium carbide can replace uranium dioxide in nuclear fuels. 

Uranium nitrides UN and U2N3 form cubic crystals and are quite similar to the carbides in their melting point (UN at 2805°C with a density of 14.3 g cm ). They are formed by reaction of nitrogen with uranium. 

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