Plutonium

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Pu
Atomic number |  94
Classification |  Metallic
Atomic mass |  244 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery |  1940
Name of discoverer |  G.T.Seaborg, A.C.Wohl and J.W.Kennedy
Name origin |  Named after the planetoid Pluto.
Uses |  Fuel for nuclear reactors, as well as nuclear wepaons.
Obtained from |  Found in small doses in some uranium ores. Also manufactured by bombarding uranium with neutrons.

Plutonium is a silvery radioactive metal named after the planetoid Pluto. It is a man-made element discovered in 1940 after uranium-238 was bombarded with neutrons in a device called a cyclotron. Plutonium-238, as well as uranium-235 and uranium-233, are among the few materials whose atoms can be split (or "fissioned") to create a nuclear explosion, which releases massive amounts of energy almost instantaneously.

## Weapons of Mass Destruction[edit]

Plutonium is used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. It was first made in significant quantities during the World War II Manhattan Project. Plutonium can also be used as a fuel in certain types of nuclear reactors where the fission process is controlled so that large quantities of energy are released more slowly to make steam and produce electricity. The split plutonium atoms become lighter elements such as cesium-137 and strontium, many of which are highly radioactive. These "fission products" are radioactive waste, although some are useful for nuclear medicine and other purposes.

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |