Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process. It forms solid grey crystals at STP, is highly toxic, reacts violently with water and is corrosive to most metals.
It is used in the uranium enrichment process because it has a triple point at 147 °C slightly higher than normal atmospheric pressure. This makes it very economical to process using the gaseous diffusion method. Isotopes of UF6 differ in their molecular weight based solely on the uranium isotope present, as fluorine has only a single stable naturally occurring isotope. By subjecting UF6 to repeated boiling and condensing, separation of U-235 from U-238 occurs by statistical enrichment. This process is very energy intensive.
Referenced By
Element 92 | List of compounds | List of compounds without articles | Uranium | Uranium 235
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