uranium-238
|u-ra-ni-um-238|
C2
/jʊˈreɪniəm tuː θrɪˈeɪt/
nuclear isotope
Etymology
Etymology Information
'uranium' originates from the planet 'Uranus', named after the Greek god of the sky, and '238' refers to its atomic mass.
Historical Evolution
'Uranium' was discovered in 1789 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth, who named it after the planet Uranus.
Meaning Changes
Initially, uranium was used for coloring glass and ceramics, but its use evolved into nuclear energy and weaponry.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a naturally occurring isotope of uranium with a mass number of 238, used primarily in nuclear reactors and weapons.
Uranium-238 is used in breeder reactors to produce plutonium-239.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/07 09:08