Abstract
The dissolution of uranium dioxide in acid solution containing an oxidant is shown to occur through an electrochemical mechanism in which anodic oxidation of the uranium dioxide is coupled to cathodic reduction of the oxidant on the surface. A correlation between the rate of dissolution and the electrochemical properties of the oxidants is derived and verified by experimental results. Certain effects observed in uranium dioxide leaching and hitherto unexplained are clarified in terms of an electrochemical mechanism.