Chemistry – Plutonium – Notes For W.B.C.S Examination.
রসায়ন – প্লুটোনিয়াম – WBCS পরীক্ষার জন্য নোট।
- Plutonium is basically an actinide metal and it appears like silvery-gray.Continue Reading Chemistry – Plutonium – Notes For W.B.C.S Examination.
- 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 −
- Plutonium–gallium is one of the important alloys of plutonium as well as of gallium.
- Plutonium–gallium is used in the nuclear weapon pits.
- Plutonium–gallium has the property of very low thermal expansion.
- Some other alloys of plutonium are −
- Plutonium–aluminum
- Plutonium–gallium–cobalt
- Plutonium–zirconium
- Plutonium–cerium
- Plutonium–uranium
- Plutonium–uranium–titanium
- Thorium–uranium–plutonium
Compounds of Plutonium
- Plutonium (IV) oxide – PuO2
- Plutonium (III) chloride – PuCl3
- Plutonium tetrafluoride – PuF4
- Plutonium (III) fluoride
- Plutonium hexafluoride
- Plutonium hydride
- Plutonium carbide
- Plutonium borides
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.
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