Question 3: Now something different involving a very heavy element, uranium (U).

Question

Question 3: Now something different involving a very heavy element, uranium (U).So the same approach-the mineral uraninite (UO2) is one of the main uranium ore minerals that has been mined at many of the uranium mines that are present in NW New Mexico. a) What is the ionic charge on the uranium in uraninite? How does the electron configuration of uranium change when it forms an ionic bond with oxygen to form uraninite? So a more complex electron structure, but the same principles apply, just a little more challenging. b) c) The compound SrCa,UO, is not a mineral, but it is an ionic solid. What is the ionic charge on uranium in SrCa UOs assuming electrostatic neutrality (see Part II, as well)? And what would you expect the electronic configuration of U in this compound to be after forming an ionic solid with has a U ion with this specific charge?

Explanation / Answer

1.Uraninite is a major ore of mineral uranium and with a chemical formula of UO2 i.e Uranium dioxide. Uranium dioxide also contains small amount of thorium. It forms a grey, black and opaque crystasl with moderate hardness. It is a radioactive mineral. This uraninite is mainly occurs in granitic or synetitic pegamate veins, quartz pebble conglomerates, high temperature hydrothermal veins. The uranium in uranite has tetravalent charge i,e charge of +6.

2. Uranium in mostly found in oxidation state of +4, +6. In Uraninite the uranium is present mainly as Uranium dioxide which has an ionic charge of +4. But when uranium in uraninite reacts with oxygen to form U3O8 i.e mineral pitchblende. The oxidation state of uranium changes and it becomes sexivalent i.e. charge of +6.

3. Uranium has an ionic charge of +6 in the compound SrCa2UO6.

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