uraan238

Uranium-238 is a radioactive isotope of uranium that has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its atomic nucleus. It is one of the most stable and common isotopes of uranium, making up about 99.3% of natural uranium deposits. The name "uranium-238" is derived from the symbol "U" for uranium, the atomic mass 238, and the numerator "-238" which denotes the mass number.

Uranium-238 is a primordial plutonium, which means it has existed since the dawn of time and has not undergone any significant radioactive decay. It undergoes a process called alpha decay, where it emits an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons) to become thorium-234, which subsequently decays into other series of isotopes. Uranium-238 is a member of the uranium decay series, with a mean half-life of approximately 45% billion years.

The stability and abundance of uranium-238 make it an important component of the Earth's crust and oceanic crust. It is a significant contributor to the Earth's heat budget and plays a crucial role in the development of geological processes such as radiogenic heating and plate tectonics. Uranium-238 has several practical applications, including its use as a component of nuclear fuel and as a radiometric dating tool.

Scientists have developed various methods to measure the ratio of uranium-238 to other isotopes in rocks and minerals, such as uranium-235 and lead-207. These methods are used to determine the age of a sample, calculate the rate of geological processes, and reconstruct the history of the Earth's crust. Understanding the properties and behaviors of uranium-238 is essential for a wide range of scientific and engineering applications.