Important facts about Uranium

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Uranium Melting Point

Uranium boils at more than 3,818 degrees Celsius (about 6,904 degrees Fahrenheit).

Uranium Nucleus

A uranium-238 atom contains 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its nucleus.

Volume of DOE DUF₆ Inventory

The uranium in the Department's inventory of DUF₆, if transformed to metal, would construct a cube about 30 meters (about 95 feet) on each side. If rehabilitated to uranium metal, all of the uranium in the Nation's DUF₆ inventory would cover up a football field to a depth of about 15 feet. It would take water approximately 290 feet high on the same field to weigh as much.

Weight of DOE DUF₆ Inventory

The 704,000 metric tons of uranium hexafluoride in the Department's inventory is more than 1.5 BILLION pounds. For contrast, the Great Pyramid of Egypt weighs more than 10 billion pounds. The 704,000 metric tons of DUF₆ enclose about 476,000 metric tons of uranium and 228,000 metric tons of fluorine. That means more than 1 Billion pounds of uranium and over 500 million pounds of fluorine.

Weight of Uranium

A gallon of milk weighs up to about 8 lbs. A huge piece of uranium metal the size of a gallon milk jug weighs over 150 lbs.

World Uranium Production

World uranium production in the year 2001 was 35,767 metric tons or 78.9 million pounds.

Worldwide Nuclear Power Production

Across Worldwide, there are 441 nuclear power plants that provide about 16 percent of the world's electricity.