AW: AW: [ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions

[Franz Schönhofer]

You did not answer my questions. Please read my message again and if you
think you have an answer - try again. No idea about the hundreds of
thousands of Iraqi victims ("dead", yes, "dead") against a few alleged
US-DU "victims", who should be ashamed of claiming that?

Franz


Franz Schoenhofer
PhD, MR iR
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone -43-0699-1168-1319


> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: James Salsman [mailto:james at bovik.org]
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 13. April 2005 00:27
> An: Franz Schönhofer
> Cc: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Betreff: Re: AW: [ RadSafe ] Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium
munitions
> 
> Franz Schönhofer wrote:
> 
> > You mention "poison gas strictly forbidden by the laws of war" -
what
> > are these laws of war?
> 
> The 1925 Geneva Protocol bans the use of "asphyxiating, poisonous, or
> other gases, and of all analogous liquids."  The 1899 and 1907 Hague
> Regulations ban the use of "poison or poisoned weapons."
> 
> >... Pyrophoric means that it reacts with oxygen.
> 
> Actually, pyrophoric means that it burns in air.  Uranium reacts with
> Nitrogen at 800 degrees Celsius.  Uranium burns in air at above 1100
> degrees Celsius.
> 
> >... to form nitrates would be a rather complicated and unreasonable
> reaction.
> 
> On the contrary, the only question is what proportion falls out of the
> fire's plasma:
> 
>       UO2 + 2 NO + 2 O2 --> UO2(NO3)2
> 
>       UO2 + 2 NO2 + O2 --> UO2(NO3)2
> 
>       2 UO3 + 4 NO + 2 O2 --> 2 UO2(NO3)2
> 
> > Your question of nitrogen compounds (as a chemist I do not know of
any)
> > and very specially on UO3 species (is it UO3 or not?) leads me to
> > conclude that you are just another one of these pseudo-scientists,
who
> > probably have studied a year of chemistry and now regard themselves
as
> > the ultimate experts in nuclear issues or whatever else, just as
> > required by some umbrella organisation which finances you.
> 
> The Gmelin Handbook and other actinide chemistry books indicate
> that about 1/5th of uranium burned in air oxidizes as the UO3
> species.  The Army has never detected that species in any of their
> open-air burns, because it is much lighter than the other oxides
> and wafts much further away from the burn.  The vapor pressure of
> uranyl nitrate is much, much greater than that of UO3, so of course
> it travels further, and, it precipitates as a film instead of
clumping.
> 
> They have never detected nitrogen compounds (including two species
> of insoluble nitrides, by the way) because, for some reason, they
> have never bothered to look.  I am not certain I believe the
> assertion that the scientists in charge of the uranium munitions
> safety studies were unaware that uranium reacts with nitrogen, but
> as you, an expert chemist, assert the same thing, it is difficult
> for me to tell.  I learned the reaction temperature in less than
> two days of library research.  In my most recent petition to the NRC,
> I have alleged gross negligence, which is the willful and reckless
> disregard for the safety of others.  The NRC is obligated to complete
> an investigation.  We will see where the evidence leads.
> 
> > Could you provide your political agenda clearly, so that we know
whom we
> > have to deal with?
> 
> Certainly.  I have a young daughter, and I would prefer that when she
> comes of age, the proportion of males in the population with
teratogenic
> sperm is kept to a minimum.
> 
> Sincerely,
> James Salsman
>