Chemical Reactivity - hdbk1113cn10053

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Module 101 Properties of Uranium

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

acute exposures to significant amounts of uranium

may result in kidney damage. However, as the

enrichment of the uranium in the 235U isotope

increases, so too do the effects of radiation

exposure in relation to toxicological effects.

Past industrial experience has proven that if there is

a long-term exposure of small amounts of uranium

(chronic exposure), the radiological effects are the

primary biological concern. In fact, for chronic

exposures, a development of tolerance against the

toxicological effects may occur. The principal

radiological hazard associated with uranium is due

to the relatively high energy alpha particles its

radionuclides and daughters emit. A chronic

exposure to these radionuclides result in an

increased risk of cancer, typically in the bones,

kidney, and lungs, since these are the organs where

uranium is deposited.

Show OT-10

The chemistry of uranium is complicated. For

example, uranium forms several oxides: UO, UO2,

UO3, and UO4. In general, a sample of uranium

oxide will include a mixture of several of these.

For example, U3O8 is sometimes written as

(UO2)C2(UO3).