Plutonium
Revision as of 06:12, 24 July 2013 by (username removed)
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
| Composition | Pu (atomic no.=94) |
|---|---|
| CAS | 7440-07-5 |
| Melting Point | 640 |
| Density | 19.84 |
| Molecular Weight | atomic wt = 239.11 |
| Boiling Point | 3235 |
Hazards and Safety
Highly toxic and a powerful carcinogen.