Search
plutonium [Pu]
Named after the planet Pluto. Discovered in 1940 by Glenn T Seaborg & colleagues in Berkeley, California; results were classified until 1946.
Occurrence:
-> found in minute quantities in uranium ore (pitchblende)
Characteristics:
1) a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium (a large piece will boil water)
2) formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium
3) plutonium undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of a helium nucleus to form uranium-235
4) it is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy
Uses:
1) nuclear explosions
2) nuclear fuel
Related
periodic table
plutonium in urine
General
actinide
radioactive element
Properties
SIZE: AW = 244.06
atomic number
VALUE: 94
VALENCE: RN 5F6 7S2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=23940
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003