New uranium isotope

Subject : Science and technology

Concept :

A team of nuclear physicists affiliated with multiple institutions in Japan, working with a colleague from Korea, has discovered a previously unknown uranium isotope with atomic number 92 and mass 241.
The group forced the isotope to reveal itself and tested the results of their efforts to show that what they had found was indeed uranium-241.

Details of the Finding

In this new effort, the research team tried a new approach—they fired a sample of unranium-238 nuclei at a sample of platinum-198 nuclei using an isotope separation system.
Such interactions are known to result in multinucleon transfer, in which isotopes swap neutrons and protons. The collision resulted in the creation of a large number of fragments, which the researchers studied to determine their makeup.
They found evidence of 19 heavy isotopes holding from 143 to 150 neutrons. Each was measured using time-of-flight mass spectrometry, a technique that involves determining the mass of a traveling ion by tracking the time it takes to travel a given distance when its initial acceleration is known.
The research team noted that most of the isotopes they measured had never been measured before.
They also noted that one of them, uranium-241, had never been observed before and that it marks the first time since 1979 that a neutron-rich uranium isotope has been discovered. The researchers also calculated that uranium-241 likely has a half-life of just 40 minutes.

Significance

The technique used by the team represents a pathway to better understanding the shapes of large nuclei associated with the heavy elements, which could yield changes to models used to build nuclear power plants and weapons and to theories describing the behavior of exploding stars.
The research team notes that that their method of discovery could be used to learn more about other heavy isotopes and also, perhaps, to discover new ones.

Uranium Element

Uranium (U) is a radioactive chemical element of the actinide series of the periodic table, atomic number 92.
Uranium is a dense, hard metallic element that is silvery white in colour. It is ductile, malleable, and capable of taking a high polish.
Occurrence:
Uranium occurs naturally in low concentrations in soil, rock and water and is commercially extracted from uranium-bearing minerals.
Uranium occurs naturally in several minerals such as uraninite (pitchblende), brannerite and carnotite. It is also found in phosphate rock and monazite sands.
Monazite sands occur on the east and west coasts and in some places in Bihar. But the largest concentration of monazite sand is on the Kerala coast.

Applications

Uranium that has a silvery grey metallic appearance is mainly used in nuclear power plants due to its unique nuclear properties.
Naturally occurring uranium consists of 99% uranium-238 and 1% uranium-235. Uranium-235 is the only naturally occurring fissionable fuel (a fuel that can sustain a chain reaction). Uranium fuel used in nuclear reactors is enriched with uranium-235.
Depleted uranium is also used as a shield against radiation in medical processes using radiation therapy and also while transporting radioactive materials.
Uranium is also used by the military to power nuclear submarines and nuclear weapons.

Distribution of Uranium Across World

Over two-thirds of the world’s production of uranium from mines is from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.
Olympic Dam and the Ranger mine in Southern Australia are important mines in Australia.
High-grade deposits are only found in the Athabasca Basin region of Canada.

Uranium In India

India produces about 2 percent of the world’s uranium. The total reserves of uranium are estimated at 30,480 tonnes.
India has no significant reserves of Uranium. All needs are met through imports. India imports thousands of tonnes of uranium from Russia, Kazakhstan, France.
India has 22 reactors with an installed capacity of 6,780 megawatts. Of these, eight reactors are fuelled by indigenous uranium while the remaining 14 are under IAEA safeguards and qualify to use imported uranium.