Uranyl nitrate

Uranyl nitrate is a water-soluble yellow uranium salt with the formula UO2(NO3)2 · n H2O. The hexa-, tri-, and dihydrates are known. 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.
<a href="/facts/Uranyl/XoqDjPHM">Uranyl</a> nitrate can be prepared by reaction of uranium salts with <a href="/facts/Nitric_acid/UDbwGp6s">nitric acid</a>. It is soluble in <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a>, <a href="/facts/Ethanol/3lCLfBSP">ethanol</a>, and <a href="/facts/Acetone/cVyJxKqw">acetone</a>. As determined by <a href="/facts/Neutron_diffraction/fYXAunDW">neutron diffraction</a>, 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 <a href="/facts/Picometer/Cb54mVBX">pm</a>, these U-O bonds are much longer than the U=O bonds of the uranyl center.

Uranyl nitrate open-in-new

Uranyl nitrate