Reid+Deason+Uranium

= Uranium = Uranium was first discovered by a German chemist, Martin Klaproth, in 1789. He named it after the planet Uranus, which was discovered 8 years before. Uranium can be found in rocks as a mineral ore, and it can be found in seawater. The uranium can be found mostly in sedimentary rocks. For example the most common sedimentary rock uranium is found in is sandstone. Uranium can be used for a variety of things including; fuel for nuclear power plants, a steel strengthener, and it is used in the production of nuclear bombs. Uranium is the world's leading source of fuel for nuclear reactors. They produce power for millions of homes all over the world. 13% of the world uses nuclear reactors as their main power source which is powered by uranium-238. Uranium-238 is the most common, and accounts for 99.3% of all the earth's uranium. Uranium-238 is used in these reactors over uranium-235 because it decays slower producing a lesser amount of energy so it can be handled safer. The uranium-238 does not produce as much radioactive toxins so it is safer to use in cities. If something were to happen to these reactors the city would have to evacuate because the toxins would still be bad enough to kill people. Uranium is used as a steel strengthener on tanks. The uranium is applied in between the armor plates of the tank, which helps with the deflection of small caliber rounds from machine guns. The uranium is also used in the tips of bullets to convert them from regular bullets into armor piercing bullets. The reason they are able to pierce heavy armor is because uranium is highly incendiary. This means that it gets hot very easily and can catch on fire. This heat burns right through the metal on tanks and on body armor. But from these two methods of strengthening steel, the most common is applying the uranium in between the steel plates of the tanks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYYEsKvHvk Highly enriched uranium is used in the making of nuclear bombs. Uranium-235 is enriched to 90%, which is highly dangerous and very hard to do. This uranium is split into 2 pieces and forced together very rapidly. When the 2 pieces of uranium collide they will produce an enormous amount of energy and heat causing a chain reaction in the air. The result of this is a nuclear bomb. The decay of the uranium is highly radioactive which will cause the death toll to climb because it will be very easy for people to die of radiation poisoning, and cancer.

Uranium is a very useful ore found in the earth's crust and in seawater. It is used for a variety of things from making energy by nuclear fission, to use in the military. Without uranium 13% of the world would be without energy, which is millions upon millions of homes, and businesses. Uranium is a rare earth metal found in sedimentary rock. Uranium is definitely an element that people overlook and don't realize how much it can actually help the world. Everyday the planet is getting more and more nuclear reactors to power more and more homes. I will never think of uranium the same.

Works Cited: 1.) Anne Helmenstine, . N.p.. Web. 23 Sep 2013. . 2.) Ryan, N.. N.p.. Web. 23 Sep 2013. . 3.) Winter, M.. N.p.. Web. 23 Sep 2013. . 4,) "Metal Profile: Uranium." About.com Metals. 23 Sept. 2013 .

Prezi: http://prezi.com/jdl3v30rwx_u/uranium/