das  Uran

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔuːʁan/

🧪 What exactly is "das Uran"?

Das Uran refers to the chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92, known in English as Uranium. It is a silvery-white, radioactive heavy metal belonging to the actinide series. Because it's the name of a chemical element, the article is fixed: das.

There are no different meanings based on the article, as "Uran" is only used with das.

• Meaning: Chemical element (Uranium)

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar of "das Uran" in Detail

"Uran" is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It is generally used only in the singular because it refers to a substance (a chemical element). A plural form is very rare and only used in specific technical contexts (e.g., referring to different isotopes or uranium compounds, then usually "Urane").

Singular Declension

Example Sentences

1. Das Uran wird in Kernkraftwerken zur Energiegewinnung genutzt.
   (Uranium is used in nuclear power plants for energy generation.)
2. Der Abbau des Urans ist oft umweltschädlich.
   (The mining of uranium is often harmful to the environment.)
3. Man reichert das Uran für bestimmte Anwendungen an.
   (Uranium is enriched for specific applications.)
4. Mit dem Uran sind besondere Sicherheitsvorkehrungen verbunden.
   (Special safety precautions are associated with uranium.)

🗣️ How to use "das Uran"?

"Das Uran" is primarily used in scientific, technical, and political contexts.

• Science & Technology: Describing the element, its isotopes (e.g., Uran-235, Uran-238), its chemical and physical properties.
• Energy: In connection with nuclear energy (Kernenergie), nuclear power plants (Kernkraftwerke), fuel rods (Brennstäbe), and enrichment (Anreicherung).
• Politics & Environment: Discussions about nuclear weapons (Kernwaffen), nuclear disarmament (nukleare Abrüstung), nuclear waste (Atommüll), final disposal (Endlagerung), and the risks of uranium mining (Uranabbau).

⚠️ It's important not to confuse "das Uran" with other radioactive elements like das Plutonium or das Thorium, although they are often mentioned together in the context of nuclear energy.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Uran"

For the article: Many chemical elements in German are neuter (das). Think: Das Element, das Metall, das Uran. Or imagine a neutral, scientific lab - everything is das.

For the meaning: Think of the planet Uranus. The element was named after the planet, discovered shortly before. Both are somehow 'out there' and special - the element Uranium is heavy and radioactive.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms:

• Direct synonyms are rare. Sometimes the chemical symbol is used: U
• Descriptions: radioaktives Schwermetall (radioactive heavy metal), Kernbrennstoff (nuclear fuel) - depending on context.

Antonyms:

• There are no direct antonyms for chemical elements. One could conceptually contrast it with non-radioactive elements or lighter elements.

Similar but different terms:

• Das Plutonium: Another radioactive element, often associated with nuclear weapons or as a byproduct in reactors.
• Das Thorium: Another radioactive element discussed as an alternative nuclear fuel.
• Die Kernkraft: The energy generated from nuclear reactions (often involving Uranium).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum ist Uran so schlecht im Versteckspiel?

Weil es immer strahlt! 😄

(Why is Uranium so bad at hide-and-seek? Because it's always radiating/shining!)

✒️ Poem about Uranium

Das Uran, schwer und dicht,
Spaltet sich im Kernenlicht.
Energie hält es bereit,
Doch birgt auch Gefahr und Leid.
Ein Element, potent und alt,
In der Erde tief und kalt.
Mit Vorsicht muss man es behandeln,
Um sicher durch die Zeit zu wandeln.

(Uranium, heavy and dense,
Splits in the nuclear light intense.
Energy it holds prepared,
But also harbours danger feared.
An element, potent and old,
In the earth deep and cold.
With caution, it must be treated,
So safety isn't defeated.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Metall, schwer und grau,
Meine Energie kennt jeder genau.
Nach einem Planeten bin ich benannt,
Im Periodensystem bekannt.
Ich strahle, ob du's willst oder nicht.
Welches Element ist hier im Gedicht?

(I am a metal, heavy and gray,
My energy is known in a precise way.
I'm named after a planet far,
Known on the periodic chart near and far.
I radiate, whether you like it or not.
Which element is the answer sought?)

Solution: Das Uran (Uranium)

💡 Interesting Facts

• Naming: Named after the planet Uranus, which had been discovered a few years earlier (1781). The name Uranus itself comes from Greek mythology (Οὐρανός Ouranos), the god of the sky.
• Discovery: The element was discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth.
• Radioactivity: The radioactivity of Uranium was discovered later, in 1896, by Henri Becquerel.
• Natural Occurrence: Uranium occurs naturally in low concentrations in rock, soil, and water. Its German name is das Uran.