Abstract
THE introduction of the electric furnace by M. H. Moissan as an instrument of research, has opened up many new fields of work; among which the preparation of those metals whose oxides had been looked upon as irreducible by carbon, is not the least interesting. Three years ago the metal uranium was obtained in this way, and in a recent number of the Comples rendus (May 18), M. Moissan gives a more complete account of the preparation and properties of this metal. The metal was isolated by three methods, by the action of sodium at a red heat upon the double chloride of sodium and uranium, UCl4. 2NaCl, the electrolysis of this double salt in the fused state, and from the oxide, by reduction with carbon in the electric furnace. All three processes give good yields, the last-mentioned being the best, if care be taken not to unduly prolong the heating in contact with carbon, and to exclude air.
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Uranium. Nature 54, 116–117 (1896). https://doi.org/10.1038/054116b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/054116b0