Chemistry - Plutonium

Introduction

• Plutonium is basically an actinide metal and it appears like silvery-gray.

• The element, which atomic number is ranging between 89 and 103, is known as actinide element.

• The symbol of plutonium is Pu and atomic number is 94.

• Plutonium normally possesses six allotropes.

• Plutonium is named after Pluto.

• Plutonium was first discovered in 1940, by a group of scientists namely Glenn T. Seaborg, Joseph W. Kennedy, Edwin M. McMillan and Arthur C. Wahl.

Salient Features of Plutonium

• Plutonium is a radioactive chemical element.

• Plutonium when exposed to air, it gets tarnished and when it oxidized, it forms a dull coating.

• Plutonium reacts with many elements including halogens, nitrogen, carbon, silicon, and hydrogen.

• Because of fission process, neutrons get released and convert uranium-238 nuclei into plutonium-239.

• Plutonium-239 and plutonium-241 both are fissile, and hence, they can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. It is very well applicable in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors.

• The melting point of plutonium is 640 ⁰C and its boiling point is 3,228 ⁰C.

• The release of helium nucleus (a high-energy) is the most common form of radioactive decay for the plutonium.

Occurrence of Plutonium

• The plutonium naturally found only in trace amounts within the uranium deposits.

• Plutonium is also extracted by burning the uranium (while developing nuclear energy).

Alloys of Plutonium

• Following are the major alloys of plutonium −

  • Plutoniumgallium is one of the important alloys of plutonium as well as of gallium.

  • Plutoniumgallium is used in the nuclear weapon pits.

  • Plutoniumgallium has the property of very low thermal expansion.

• Some other alloys of plutonium are −

  • Plutoniumaluminum

  • Plutoniumgalliumcobalt

  • Plutoniumzirconium

  • Plutoniumcerium

  • Plutoniumuranium

  • Plutoniumuraniumtitanium

  • Thoriumuraniumplutonium

Compounds of Plutonium

• Plutonium (IV) oxide - PuO₂

• Plutonium (III) chloride - PuCl₃

• Plutonium tetrafluoride - PuF₄

Uses of Plutonium

• The isotope plutonium-239 is one of the significant elements in developing the nuclear weapons.

• Plutonium is used as a fuel in the nuclear power plants.