Plutonium

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Description

A radioactive metallic element. Plutonium is made synthetically and does not occur in nature. The silvery metal is produced by the neutron bombardment of uranium. Its longest-lived isotope is Pu 244 with a half-life of 76 million years. Plutonium oxidized readily in the presence of air and moisture. Plutonium is used as an explosive ingredient in nuclear weapons. It is also used as a reactor fuel and as an energy source for radio nuclide batteries.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Pu

Risks

  • Highly toxic
  • Powerful carcinogen
  • Echemi: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Composition Pu (atomic no.=94)
CAS 7440-07-5
Melting Point 640 C
Density 19.84 g/ml
Molecular Weight atomic wt = 239.11
Boiling Point 3235 C

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