Uranyl nitrate

Uranyl nitrate
Uranyl nitrate as yellow crystals
Names
IUPAC name
(T-4)-bis(nitrato-κO)dioxouranium
Other names
Uranium nitrate, Yellow salt
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.229 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • anhydrous: 233-266-3
RTECS number
  • hexahydrate: YR3850000
UNII
  • anhydrous: InChI=1S/2NO3.2O.U/c2*2-1(3)4;;;/q2*-1;;; checkY
    Key: QWDZADMNIUIMTC-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • dihydrate: InChI=1S/2NO3.2H2O.2O.U/c2*2-1(3)4;;;;;/h;;2*1H2;;;/q2*-1;;;;;+2
    Key: SUFYIOKRRLBZBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • hexahydrate: InChI=1S/2HNO3.6H2O.2O.U/c2*2-1(3)4;;;;;;;;;/h2*(H,2,3,4);6*1H2;;;
    Key: WRIBVRZWDPGVQH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • anhydrous: [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].O=[U+2]=O.[O-][N+](=O)[O-]
  • dihydrate: [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[N+](=O)([O-])[O-].O.O.O=[U+2]=O
  • hexahydrate: [N+](=O)(O)[O-].[N+](=O)(O)[O-].O.O.O.O.O.O.O=[U]=O
Properties
UO2(NO3)2
Molar mass 394.04 g/mol
Appearance yellow-green solid
hygroscopic
Density 3.5 g/cm3 (dihydrate)[1]
Melting point 60.2 °C (140.4 °F; 333.3 K)
Boiling point 118 °C (244 °F; 391 K) (decomposition)
g/100g H2O: 98 (0°C), 122 (20°C), 474 (100°C)<
Solubility in tributyl phosphate soluble
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
12 mg/kg (dog, oral)
238 (cat, oral)[2]
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Related compounds
Other anions
Uranyl chloride
Uranyl sulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Uranyl nitrate is a water-soluble yellow uranium salt with the formula UO2(NO3)2 · n H2O. The hexa-, tri-, and dihydrates are known.[3] The compound is mainly of interest because it is an intermediate in the preparation of nuclear fuels. In the nuclear industry, it is commonly referred to as yellow salt.

Uranyl nitrate can be prepared by reaction of uranium salts with nitric acid. It is soluble in water, ethanol, and acetone. As determined by neutron diffraction, the uranyl center is characteristically linear with short U=O distances. In the equatorial plane of the complex are six U-O bonds to bidentate nitrate and two water ligands. At 245 pm, these U-O bonds are much longer than the U=O bonds of the uranyl center.[1]

  1. ^ a b Mueller, Melvin Henry; Dalley, N. Kent; Simonsen, Stanley H. (1971). "Neutron Diffraction Study of Uranyl Nitrate Dihydrate". Inorganic Chemistry. 10 (2): 323–328. doi:10.1021/ic50096a021.
  2. ^ "Uranium (soluble compounds, as U)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ Peehs, Martin; Walter, Thomas; Walter, Sabine; Zemek, Martin (2007). "Uranium, Uranium Alloys, and Uranium Compounds". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a27_281.pub2. ISBN 978-3527306732.