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u-ra-ni-um.
noun. Symbol U
A heavy silvery-white metallic element, radioactive and toxic, easily
oxidized, and having 14 known isotopes of which U 238 is the most
abundant in nature. The element occurs in several minerals, including uraninite
and carnotite, from which it is extracted and processed for use in
research, nuclear fuels, and nuclear weapons. Atomic number 92; atomic weight
238.03; melting point 1,132̊C; boiling point 3,818̊C; specific gravity 18.95;
valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
[New Latin uranium, after Uranus, Uranus ; see Uranus.]
Word History: Some chemical elements, such as ytterbium and berkelium,
derive their names from the places they were discovered, but the
element uranium owes its name to an earlier scientific discovery, that of the
planet Uranus. Sir William Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781, wanted to
name the planet Georgium sidus, "the Georgian planet," in honor of George
III; others called it Herschel. Eventually convention prevailed and the
planet came to be called Uranus, like Mercury and Pluto the name of a heavenly
deity in classical mythology. This god, called Ouranos in Greek
(Latinized as Uranus), was chosen because he was the father of Saturn (Greek
Kronos), the deity of the planet next in line, who himself was the father of
Jupiter (Greek Zeus), the deity of the next planet. The name of this new planet
Uranus was then used in the name of a new chemical element discovered
eight years later by M.H. Klaproth. Klaproth, a German scientist, gave it the
Latin name uranium in honor of the discovery of Uranus. Uranium passed
into English shortly thereafter, being first recorded in the third edition
of the Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1797.
http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/ucompound/health/index.cfm
http://www.sea-us.org.au/uran-res.html
noun. Symbol U
A heavy silvery-white metallic element, radioactive and toxic, easily
oxidized, and having 14 known isotopes of which U 238 is the most
abundant in nature. The element occurs in several minerals, including uraninite
and carnotite, from which it is extracted and processed for use in
research, nuclear fuels, and nuclear weapons. Atomic number 92; atomic weight
238.03; melting point 1,132̊C; boiling point 3,818̊C; specific gravity 18.95;
valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
[New Latin uranium, after Uranus, Uranus ; see Uranus.]
Word History: Some chemical elements, such as ytterbium and berkelium,
derive their names from the places they were discovered, but the
element uranium owes its name to an earlier scientific discovery, that of the
planet Uranus. Sir William Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781, wanted to
name the planet Georgium sidus, "the Georgian planet," in honor of George
III; others called it Herschel. Eventually convention prevailed and the
planet came to be called Uranus, like Mercury and Pluto the name of a heavenly
deity in classical mythology. This god, called Ouranos in Greek
(Latinized as Uranus), was chosen because he was the father of Saturn (Greek
Kronos), the deity of the planet next in line, who himself was the father of
Jupiter (Greek Zeus), the deity of the next planet. The name of this new planet
Uranus was then used in the name of a new chemical element discovered
eight years later by M.H. Klaproth. Klaproth, a German scientist, gave it the
Latin name uranium in honor of the discovery of Uranus. Uranium passed
into English shortly thereafter, being first recorded in the third edition
of the Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1797.
http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/guide/ucompound/health/index.cfm
http://www.sea-us.org.au/uran-res.html