what is UF6?

Answer 1

Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6)
Physical and chemical properties of UF6, and its use in uranium processing.

Uranium Hexafluoride and Its Properties
Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound consisting of one atom of uranium combined with six atoms of fluorine. It is the chemical form of uranium that is used during the uranium enrichment process. Within a reasonable range of temperature and pressure, it can be a solid, liquid, or gas. Solid UF6 is a white, dense, crystalline material that resembles rock salt

Answer 2

All these are good properties of uranium hexaflouride, but what is it used for?

When UF6 is in its gaseous state, it is processed with centrifuges to enrich the uranium. In nature, uranium can be found in two major isotopes: U-238 and U-235. (Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different atomic masses.) Since U-238 is 3 atomic mass units heavier than U-235, the UF6 gas made from U-238 is a little denser than UF6 made from U-235. This means that the U-235 UF6 will float above the U-238 UF6, eventually. Centrifuges speed up the floating/sinking process by simulating very high gravity. Usually, many centrifuges are linked together to continue purifying the gas.

The goal here is "enriched" uranium, containing more U-235 than natural samples of uranium. This U-235 is more useful for nuclear power plants, and also for making nuclear weapons.

Any newspaper these days has at least one article talking about Iran's uranium conversion (forming UF6 from uranium ores) and enrichment (using centrifuges) and the controversy these activities generate.

Answer 3

Uranium hexafluoride is a chemical compound consisting of one atom of uranium combined with six atoms of fluorine. It is the chemical form of uranium that is used during the uranium enrichment process. Within a reasonable range of temperature and pressure, it can be a solid, liquid, or gas. Solid UF6 is a white, dense, crystalline material that resembles rock salt.

Uranium hexafluoride does not react with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or dry air, but it does react with water or water vapor. For this reason, UF6 is always handled in leak tight containers and processing equipment. When UF6 comes into contact with water, such as water vapor in the air, the UF6 and water react, forming corrosive hydrogen fluoride (HF) and a uranium-fluoride compound called uranyl fluoride (UO2F2).

Answer 4

uranium hexafluoride, the heaviest gas i've ever heard of, just one uranium atom at the center and 6 fluorines bonded on around it