What is uranyl nitrate used for? Is uranyl radioactive? Is uranyl nitrate uranium? How do you get uranyl nitrate? Where can I buy Uranium Nitrate

UO₂(NO₃)₂

Uranyl nitrate is a water-soluble yellow uranium salt with the formula UO2(NO3)2 · n H2O. The hexa-, tri-, and dihydrates are known.[3] The compound is mainly of interest because it is an intermediate in the preparation of nuclear fuels.

Uranyl nitrate can be prepared by reaction of uranium salts with nitric acid. It is soluble in water, ethanol, and acetone. As determined by neutron diffraction, the uranyl center is characteristically linear with short U=O distances. In the equatorial plane of the complex are six U-O bonds to bidentate nitrate and two water ligands. At 245 pm, these U-O bonds are much longer than the U=O bonds of the uranyl center.

Processing of nuclear fuels

Uranyl nitrate is important for nuclear reprocessing. It is the compound of uranium that results from dissolving the decladded spent nuclear fuel rods or yellowcake in nitric acid, for further separation and preparation of uranium hexafluoride for isotope separation for preparing of enriched uranium. A special feature of uranyl nitrate is its solubility in tributyl phosphate, which allows uranium to be extracted from the nitric acid solution. Its high solubility is attributed to the formation of the lipophilic adduct.

Photography

During the first half of the 19th century, many photosensitive metal salts had been identified as candidates for photographic processes, among them uranyl nitrate. The prints thus produced were called uranium prints or uranotypes.

Stain for microscopy

Along with uranyl acetate it is used as a negative stain for viruses in electron microscopy; in tissue samples it stabilizes nucleic acids and cell membranes.

As a reagent

Uranyl nitrates are common starting materials for the synthesis of other uranyl compounds because the nitrate ligand is easily replaced by other anions. It reacts with oxalate to give uranyl oxalate. Treatment with hydrochloric acid gives uranyl chloride.

Formula: UO₂(NO₃)₂· 6H₂OMolar Mass: 502.129 g/mol
Form: Yellow orthorhombic crystals
CAS Number: 13520-83-7
IUPAC name: (T-4)-bis(nitrato-κO)dioxouranium
Density: 2.807 g/cm³
Synonyms: Uranium nitrate oxide (UO2(NO3)2), Bis(nitrato-O)dioxouranium, dioxouranium;nitric acid, Uranium, bis(nitrato-O)dioxo-, (T-4)-, Yellow salt, Uranium oxynitrate, Dinitratodioxouranium, bis(nitrato-kO)(dioxo)uranium, Bis(nitrato)dioxouranium, Uranium, bis(nitrato-O)dioxo-, Uranyl(Ⅵ)nitrate hexahydrate; uranyl nitrate, hexahydrate, solution; hexahydrate(t-4)-uranium; Uranium, bis(nitrato)dioxo-, hexahydrate