Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound made of uranium and fluorine. It has the chemical formula UF
6. Uranium hexafluoride is important in uranium enrichment, which separates isotopes of uranium to make nuclear fuel and nuclear weapons.
| Uranium hexafluoride | |
|---|---|
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | 6U |
| Molar mass | 352.02 g mol-1 |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 |
0
4
2
|
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) | |
Uranium hexafluoride is a white solid at room temperature, but turns into a gas at the relatively low 56.5 °C (133.7 °F).
Uses
Fluorine has only one stable isotope, meaning that any change in molecular mass between molecules of UF
6 is because of the uranium atom. This allows isotopes to be physically separated based on their mass.
Gas centrifuges are used to separate different isotopologues of UF
6, producing a stream containing "enriched" uranium-235 (and other fissile isotopes) and another containing "depleted" uranium-238.
Uranium Hexafluoride Media
Packing of UF6 in its unit cell.
Phase diagram of UF
6
