uranium hexafluoride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, water-insoluble, crystalline, volatile solid, UF 6 , used in its gaseous state in separating uranium 235 from uranium.

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uranium hexafluoride British  

/ ˌhɛksəˈflʊəˌraɪd /

noun

1. a compound used in the process of uranium enrichment that produces fissile material for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Formula: UF 6

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Etymology

Origin of uranium hexafluoride

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Solstice Advanced Materials is expanding uranium hexafluoride production to over 10 kilotonnes annually, a 20% increase from its 2024 output.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

"If this uranium hexafluoride comes in contact with moisture in the air, it's really quite corrosive and nasty because it can form this very, very strong acid," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2025

AP also tracked millions of dollars worth of shipments of radioactive uranium hexafluoride from Russian state-owned Tenex JSC, the world’s largest exporter of initial nuclear fuel cycle products, to Westinghouse Electric Co. in South Carolina.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2022

Iran's stock of uranium hexafluoride, the feedstock for centrifuges, machines that enrich uranium, includes 33.2 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, the report seen by Reuters said, an increase of 15.5 kg.

From Reuters • Mar. 3, 2022

The main obstacle for the diffusion process being developed by Urey was its reliance on uranium hexafluoride gas, the detestable “hex,” which lived up to its nickname by severely corroding every permeable barrier Urey tried.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik