9855. Uranium Dioxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1344-57-6
Uranous oxide; black uranium oxide.
O2U; mol wt 270.03.
O 11.85%, U 88.15%.
UO2.

Description and references

Occurs in nature as the minerals uraninite or pitchblende. Review of uranium oxides: Keller in Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry vol. 5, J. C. Bailar, Jr. et al., Eds. (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1973) pp 224-233.

Properties

Brown to black powder, or cubic crystals. d 10.97. mp 2865°. When obtained by heating the urano-uranic oxide or the oxalate in hydrogen, it is brown or copper-red in color and is pyrophoric. Insol in water, dil acids; sol in concd acids.

Use

Nuclear fuel.