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Uranium is am ng elements and is a
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naturally occu of concentrated energy.
ce
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sh
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More tha ranium productio
world’s u m just 10 mines.
comes fro
ranium occ
urs
known as is in slightly differing
forms
otopes. The
number of
se isotope
particles (
s differ in
neutrons)
most comm
the
i
n
t
h
on isotope
eir nuclei.
s
The
are uranium
uranium 2
35 (U- 235).
238 (U- 238
) and
When the
nucleus of
a U - 235 a t o
(fissions),
m splits in
it releases
two
energy in
also expels
the form o
two or thre
f heat. It
e neutrons
which can
f
cause othe
r
o
m
its nucleus
r U- 235 atom
to split. W
,
s in their v
hen this ha
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ppens over
many milli
and over a
ons of tim
gain,
es, a very la
heat is pro
rge amoun
duced from
t of
a relatively
of uranium
small amou
.
nt
This “burn
ing” of ura
nium is wh
nuclear rea
at occurs i
ctor. The c
na
hain reacti
by neutron
on is contr
-absorbing
olled
rods that c
withdrawn
an be inser
to set the
ted or
reactor’s p
ower level.
anium es
r
u
s
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world it produc
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h
t
f
are o 15%, but uranium. a:
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Keywords
Fission: a splitting of an atom’s nucleus which is
Saskatchewan Mining Association
Regina, Saskatchewan
[email protected]
www.saskmining.ca
accompanied by the release of heat and radiation.
Isotopes: different forms of the same chemical element that
are distinguished by the number of neutrons in their nuclei.
Radioactive Decay: the breakdown of radioactive material over a period of time.