KBC 14: Which mineral is needed for generation of nuclear power?
Potassium
Cadmium
Aluminium
Uranium
Answer: Uranium
Uranium is the mineral needed for the generation of nuclear power.
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the periodic table, with atomic number 92. he chemical symbol for it is U. There are 92 protons and 92 electrons in an atom of uranium, of which 6 are valence electrons. The atomic weight of uranium is the greatest among all naturally occurring elements.
Uranium is a naturally occurring element that is found in trace amounts in water, rock, soil, and uranium-bearing minerals like uraninite. Open pits or underground excavations can both be used to harvest uranium ore. The precious uranium can then be extracted from the ore by crushing and treating it at a mill.
In-situ leaching, which involves dissolving uranium right in the ore deposits below the surface, is another option. Earth-mined uranium is handled, stored, and sold as uranium oxide concentrate (U3O8).
German scientist Martin Klaproth discovered uranium in 1789 while examining pitchblende samples from the Joachimsthal silver mines in the former Kingdom of Bohemia, which is located in modern-day Czechia. He isolated an oxide of uranium. He gave his discovery the name “uran” in honor of Uranus.
Uranium has long been employed largely as a pigment in pottery glazes and as a tinting agent in early photography. It wasn’t until 1866 that its radioactive characteristics were discovered, and it wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that its potential as an energy source became apparent. Today, uranium is used to fuel commercial nuclear reactors that generate energy and to create isotopes that are utilized all over the world in industry, medicine, and military.
Physical Characteristics of Uranium
Concentration – Uranium is the 48th most common element in crustal rock in terms of abundance. Uranium is a mineral that is bound to other elements and is present in the crust of the Earth.
Density- Uranium metal has a very high density. It is 1.67 times more dense than lead, at 19 grams per cubic centimeter.
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