Uranium

M.H. Klaproth found a new element in pitchblende in 1789, which he called uranium after the newly discovered planet Uranus. Uranium was first isolated in 1841 by B. Peligot, who reduced the anhydrous chloride UCl₄ with potassium [1,3]. The radioactive nature of uranium was not appreciated for another 55 years when in 1896 Henri Becquerel detected its radioactivity.

Named after the planet Uranus [1,3]