- Nuclear fuel- uranium minerals (such as pitchblende, uraninite, and
tobernite) are used as fuel; one pound of Uranium has as much
potential energy as three million pounds of coal
- Nuclear fission- when U-235 is bombarded with slow moving
neutrons a chain reaction occurs causing a huge release of energy (see
this great demonstration).
U-235 is only natural occurring fissile material.
- Nuclear Weapons/Explosives- Discovery of nuclear fission led to the
invention of the first atomic bomb and now more modern nuclear
weapons
- Conversion into plutonium- the very abundant U-238 can be converted
into plutonium, a fissile material. Converter and breeder
reactors use U-235 to bombard U-238 with neutrons, leading to the
production of plutonium
- Coloring of Glass and Ceramics- Uranium
gives a popular
fluorescent
yellow and green color when added to glass and ceramics
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