Uranyl acetate

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Uranyl acetate
IUPAC name

Uranium bis(acetato)-O)dioxo-dihydrate

Other names

Uranyl ethanoate ; Uranyl acetate dihydrate

Identifiers
CAS number 541-09-3 YesY, (anhydrous)
[6159-44-0] (dihydrate)
Properties
Molecular formula UO2(CH3COO)2 (anhydrous)
UO2(CH3COO)2·2H2O (dihydrate)
Molar mass 424.146 g/mol (dihydrate)
Appearance yellow-green crystals (dihydrate)
Density 2.89 g/cm3 (dihydrate)
Melting point decomposes at 80 °C (dihydrate)
Solubility slightly soluble in ethanol[1]
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
 YesY (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Uranyl acetate (UO2(CH3COO)2·2H2O) is the acetate salt of uranium and is a yellow-green crystalline solid made up of yellow-green rhombic crystals and has a slight acetic odor. Uranyl acetate is slightly radioactive, the precise radioactivity depends on the isotopes of uranium present. This compound is a nuclear fuel derivative, and its use and possession are sanctioned by international law.

Production

Commercial preparations of uranyl acetate are usually made from depleted uranium and are prepared by reacting metallic uranium with acetic acid.

Uses

Uranyl magnesium acetate could form precipitation with sodium ion

Uranyl acetate is extensively used as a negative stain in electron microscopy. Most procedures in electron microscopy for biology require the use of uranyl acetate. Negative staining protocols typically treat the sample with 1% to 5% aqueous solution. Uranyl acetate staining is simple and quick to perform and one can examine the sample within a few minutes after staining. Some biological samples are not amenable to uranyl acetate staining and, in these cases, alternative staining techniques and or low-voltage electron microscopy technique may be more suitable.

1% and 2% uranyl acetate solutions are used as an indicator, and a titrant in stronger concentrations in analytical chemistry, as it forms an insoluble salt with sodium (the vast majority of sodium salts are water-soluble). Uranyl acetate solutions show evidence of being sensitive to light, especially UV, and will precipitate if exposed.

Uranyl acetate is also used in a standard test—American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Designation T 299—for alkali-silica reactivity in aggregates (crushed stone or gravel) being considered for use in cement concrete.

Safety

Uranyl acetate is both radioactive and toxic. Normal commercial stocks prepared from depleted uranium have a typical specific activity of 0.37–0.51 microcuries (14–19 kBq) per gram. This is a very mild level of radioactivity and is not sufficient to be harmful while the material remains external to the body.

Uranyl acetate is very toxic if ingested, inhaled as dust or by skin contact if skin is cut or abraded. The toxicity is due to the combined effect of chemical toxicity and mild radioactivity and there is a danger of cumulative effects from long term exposure.

References

  1. ↑ Lide, David R. (1998), Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.), Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 3–566, ISBN 0-8493-0594-2 

External links

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