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  • 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 Glass Colored by Uranium gives a popular fluorescent yellow and green color when added to glass and ceramics

 

 

 

 

Website Created By Jarad Mason
March 30, 2003