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uranium as colourant

updated tue 4 nov 97

 

Tom Buck on mon 3 nov 97

For those who wonder about the radioactivity of uranium, I submit the
following data:

Natural uranium contains two dominant isotopes, U-235 (0.741%) and U-238
(almost all the balance). Both isotopes are radioactive, slowly releasing
alpha particles (stripped helium atoms) most times but very infrequently a
nucleus receives a "slow neutron" and fissions, releasing different
particles and gamma radiation.
Some harm might come over time but it would take close
contact with a pot glazed with a uranium-bearing mix to bring this about.
Our bodies get plenty of back-ground radiation everyday (including
cosmic, ultra-violet, some gamma, some x-ray, probably some alpha and beta
(highspeed electrons). Personally, I do not wish to add to the load even a
small amount from natural uranium so I would not use this element.
If I really wanted yellow, and wanted to pay the price, I would
use natural praseodymium (in oxide form). It is a "rare earth" element
that is not radioactive in its natural state although very brief lived
radio-isotopes can be made in the lab. Good potting. Tom.

Tom Buck ) tel:
905-389-2339 & snailmail: 373 East 43rd St. Hamilton ON L8T 3E1 Canada
(westend Lake Ontario, province of Ontario, Canada).