Editing Uranium (section)

===Hydrides, carbides and nitrides===
Uranium metal heated to {{convert|250|to|300|C|F}} reacts with [[hydrogen]] to form [[uranium hydride]]. Even higher temperatures will reversibly remove the hydrogen. This property makes uranium hydrides convenient starting materials to create reactive uranium powder along with various uranium [[carbide]], [[nitride]], and [[halide]] compounds.{{sfn|Seaborg|1968|p=782}} Two crystal modifications of uranium hydride exist: an α form that is obtained at low temperatures and a β form that is created when the formation temperature is above 250&nbsp;°C.{{sfn|Seaborg|1968|p=782}}

[[Uranium carbide]]s and [[uranium nitride]]s are both relatively [[Chemically inert|inert]] [[semimetal]]lic compounds that are minimally soluble in [[acid]]s, react with water, and can ignite in [[air]] to form {{chem|U|3|O|8}}.{{sfn|Seaborg|1968|p=782}} Carbides of uranium include uranium monocarbide (U[[carbon|C]]), uranium dicarbide ({{chem|UC|2}}), and diuranium tricarbide ({{chem|U|2|C|3}}). Both UC and {{chem|UC|2}} are formed by adding carbon to molten uranium or by exposing the metal to [[carbon monoxide]] at high temperatures. Stable below 1800&nbsp;°C, {{chem|U|2|C|3}} is prepared by subjecting a heated mixture of UC and {{chem|UC|2}} to mechanical stress.{{sfn|Seaborg|1968|p=780}} Uranium nitrides obtained by direct exposure of the metal to [[nitrogen]] include uranium mononitride (UN), uranium dinitride ({{chem|UN|2}}), and diuranium trinitride ({{chem|U|2|N|3}}).{{sfn|Seaborg|1968|p=780}}