CHEM120 Week 6 Discussion: Radiation – Topic of Uranium-238 (Option 2)

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Week 6 Discussion: Radiation Hello everyone, For this weeks discussion I will do option 2 on the topic of Uranium- 238. Uranium-238 is the most common isotope of Uranium yielding 99.2 percent wit... hin natural uranium. Uranium- 238 has 92 protons and 146 neutrons. It was also recorded that it has a half- life of 4.5 billion years. a. Uranium- 238 is an ionizing radiation. b. Uranium- 238 gives off alpha particles which are not effectively penetrating so s long a its rays are found outside of the body it has been recorded to cause minimal health hazards. However, if it is consumed or inhaled the radioactivity will cause a higher risk of lung and bone cancer. If Uranium-238 has a high concentration it is considered to be chemically toxic and an cause damage to internal organs most commonly the kidneys. c. Uranium- 238 is a naturally occurring radioactive element d. Uranium - 238 can be used to generate plutonium- 239 which can be used to create a nuclear weapons or as fuel for nuclear reactors. Uranium: Its Uses and Hazards. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2020, from https://ieer.org/resource/factsheets/uranium-its-uses-and-hazards/ It's Elemental. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2020, from https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele092.html#:~:text=Uranium-238, uranium's most common,uranium-238 absorbs a neutron. [Show More]

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