Uranium

This article is a stub. You can help improve this article by editing it.

A Kazatomprom worker checking the radiation level of uranium oxide at a mine in Kazakhstan in 2006.

Uranium (U) is a naturally occurring radioactive element, categorized as atomic number 92 on the periodic table of elements. As a radioactive element, uranium decays over time and releases energy in the process. Uranium is the main source of fuel for nuclear reactors.

There are three natural isotopes of uranium: uranium-234 (U-234), uranium-235 (U-235) and uranium-238 (U-238). U-238 is the most common uranium isotope and accounts for around 99% of natural uranium found on earth. Meanwhile, most nuclear reactors use fuels containing U-235. As natural uranium typically contains only 0.72% of U-235, the U-235 concentration is typically artificially increased through a process called enrichment. Through enrichment, the isotopic proportion of U-235 is increased from 0.72% to up to 94%.

Kazakhstan has been the leading producer of uranium in the world since 2009, with its output accounting for 43% of global uranium supply in 2022. Other major producers include Canada, Namibia, Australia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Niger, China, India, and South Africa.

Nuclear energy

Globally, around 10% of electricity is generated from nuclear power. Some countries which rely heavily on nuclear power include Belgium, France, and Ukraine.

See also

• Nuclear energy
• Nuclear weapons
• Anti-nuclear sentiment