Protactinium

Description

A dense, radioactive, metallic element. Protactinium is one of the rarest and most expensive naturally occurring elements. It is an α-emitter and is a radiological hazard similar to polonium. Protactinium is a natural decay product of U238 and occurs as a constituent of uranium ores. As a metal, it is silvery, ductile and malleable. It is found primarily as an intermediate in breeder reactors.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Pa; protoactinium

Risks

• Highly toxic radioactive material.
• Dangerous by ingestion, inhalation and contact.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Composition	Pa (atomic no. 91)
CAS	7440-13-3
Melting Point	1560-1575 C
Density	15.37 g/ml
Molecular Weight	atomic wt = 231.0359
Boiling Point	4227 C

Resources and Citations

• Web Elements: link