Uranium melting-point

Uraniums melting point is 1,135°C, its boiling point is about 4,100°C, and its density is about 19g/cm, which means it is about 19 times heavier than water. 

Early reactors used uranium in metallic form but this has been superseded by UO2 which is chemically less reactive and has a higher melting point. UC2 is also sometimes used but is reactive towards O2. 

Fluorides are nonhygroscopic, and their melting points are higher than those of the corresponding chlorides. Besides, the fluoride reduction reactions are considerably more exothermic. The prime examples of the use of fluorides as intermediates are the reduction of uranium tetrafluoride by calcium or magnesium the reduction of rare earth fluorides by calcium, reduction of beryllium fluoride by magnesium and the reduction of potassium tantalum double fluoride by sodium. 

Most of the known chemistry of polonium is based on the naturally occurring radioactive isotope polonium-210, which is a natural radioactive decay by-product of the uranium decay series. Its melting point is 254°C, its boiling point is 962°C, and its density is 9.32g/cm. ... 

Promethium is a silvery-white, radioactive metal that is recovered as a by-product of uranium fission. Promethium-147 is the only isotope generally available for smdy. The spectral lines of promethium can be observed in the light from a distant star in the constellation Andromeda. Even so, it is not found naturally on Earth, and scientists consider it to be an artificial element. Its melting point is 1,042°C, its boiling point is estimated at 3,000°C, and its density is 7.3 g/cm. ... 

After the discovery of plutoninm and before elements 95 and 96 were discovered, their existence and properties were predicted. Additionally, chemical and physical properties were predicted to be homologous (similar) to europium (gjEu) and gadolinium ( Gd), located in the rare-earth lanthanide series just above americium (gjAm) and curium ((,jCm) on the periodic table. Once discovered, it was determined that curium is a silvery-white, heavy metal that is chemically more reactive than americium with properties similar to uranium and plutonium. Its melting point is 1,345°C, its boihng point is 1,300°C, and its density is 13.51g/cm. ... 

The pentafluorides MoFs (yellow), ReFs (green), OsFs (blue), and UFS (pale yellow-green) are extremely moisture sensitive and must be handled and stored in a dry box. The samples can be stored in Kel-F bottles. With the exception of UF5 these compounds have sufficient vapor pressure so that they can be sublimed. Uranium pentafluoride, on the other hand, is a nonvolatile solid at room temperature. The melting points for these compounds are MoFs, 65° ReFs, 47° OsFs, 70°. The infrared spectra (Nujol mull) show the following broad bands MoFs, 740, 693, 653, 520 cm"1 ReFs, 720, 691, 660, 530 cm 1 OsFs, 710, 690, 655, 530 cm 1 UFS, 620, 565, 510, 405 cm"1. More detailed spectroscopic and powder diffraction data have been summarized elsewhere.5 7... 

The fuel particles used in these studies were typical pyrolytic carbon-coated thorium-uranium dicarbide, (Th,U)C2, microspheres. The kernels, — 200/i in diameter, were prepared from Th02, U02, and C and converted to the carbide at temperatures below 2200°C., followed by a spheroidization above the melting point, 2450°-2500°C. The bare kernels were coated with a 30-50fi layer of low density (— 1.0 gram/cm.3) buffer pyrolytic carbon, followed by a 40-70/a layer of high density... 

Tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]uranium is an extremely air- and moisture-sensitive, red-purple solid, which can be stored for months in the absence of air and moisture without noticeable signs of decomposition. It is soluble in both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The NMR spectrum in benzene- (250 MHz, 20°C) shows a single broad resonance at d — 11.5.11 The compound sublimes readily at 80°C under good vacuum (10 6 torr). The checkers report a melting point of 137-140°C. The IR spectrum, recorded as a Nujol mull between KBr plates, has absorptions at 1248(s), 1170(w), 990(s), 860(s), 828(s), 764(m), 676(m), 654(m), and 598(m) cm1. Other physicochemical properties are described in the literature.4... 

Table 10.7 Melting points and boiling points of uranium chlorides...

Actinide nitrides are known for Th through Cm. All of the nitrides are high melting compounds with melting points of 2630 °C, 2560 °C, and 2580 °C for Th, Np, and Pu, respectively. The actinide nitrides can decompose to give N2. Thorium, uranimn, and plutonium nitrides are well known and can be used as nuclear fiiels. Fuels of this type, especially uranium and mixed uranium plutonium nitrides, can be used in lead-cooled fast reactors, which have been proposed as a possible next-generation nuclear reactor and for use in deep-sea research vehicles. 

The metallurgical properties of metallic plutonium are even more unfavourable than those of uranium. The melting point of Pu is 639 °C and six solid phases are known. Furthermore, the critical mass of a reactor operating with pure Pu as fuel is below 10 kg, and it would be very difficult to take away the heat from such a small amount of material. A great number of plutonium alloys have been investigated with respect to their possible use as nuclear fuel, but they have not found practical application. 

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