Uranium is the heaviest element of the periodic table with 92 protons. In nature uranium consists of two primordial isotopes, uranium-238 (92%), and uranium-235 (0.7%), with very small amounts of uranium-234. Like all other elements with atomic weights greater than iron (26), uranium is only naturally born in supernovae. Uranium decays by emitting an alpha particle. Uranium-235 is the only naturally occurring fissile isotope, and therefore exploited for its nuclear capabilities. As uranium undergoes decay by emitting alpha particles, it creates entirely different elements known as daughters. Uranium decays to become protactinium (91). Protoactinium too is radioactive and decays to become thorium (90). Thorium becomes radium (88). Radium becomes radon (86) and so on. Each of these elements has its own properties including its own half life. Uranium’s final daughter, is lead. Lead is no longer radioactive, but is still toxic to humans.
