The behaviour of uranium metal in hydrogen atmospheres

Abstract
The reaction between commercial H2 and uranium metal leads to the formation of UO2 due to traces of water vapour or oxygen. When extremely pure H2 is used uranium hydride may be formed but, even with 99.9999% H2 uranium dioxide forms preferentially. The present work identifies the presence of UH3 in the X-ray photoelectron spectrum of a uranium sample which has been exposed to ca. 1010 L†; H2 at ca. 200 °C. This spectrum indicates that the hydride possesses a high degree of covalency, since the oxidation state of uranium in UH3 appears to be ca. 1.4.

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