ScienceAugust 18, 2026
uranyl
YOOR-uh-nil
Definition
A divalent cation ([UO2]2+) consisting of one uranium atom bonded to two oxygen atoms, which serves as a common structural unit in uranium chemistry.
Etymology
Derived from 'uranium'—named after the planet Uranus—plus the chemical suffix '-yl', which is used to denote a radical or a specific functional group.
In the news
The article uses the uranyl ion as a benchmark for high-order cumulative bonding, noting that it contains a triple bond between each pair of atoms.
Uranium complex smashes record for consecutive bonds between atoms
Read the full article ↗Chemistry World