Plutonium
Appearance
A radioactive, silvery metal.
Uses
Plutonium was used in several of the first atomic bombs, and is still used in nuclear weapons. The complete detonation of a kilogram of plutonium produces an explosion equivalent to over 10,000 tonnes of chemical explosive.
Plutonium is also a key material in the development of nuclear power. It has been used as a source of energy on space missions, such as the Mars Curiosity Rover and the New Horizons spacecraft on its way to Pluto.
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Element Facts & Figures
| Atomic Symbol | Pu |
| Atomic Number | 94 |
| Atomic Weight | (244) |
| Melting Point | 640°C, 1184°F, 913 K |
| Boiling Point | 3228°C, 5842°F, 3501 K |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Solid |
| Element Classification | Actinoid Metal |
| Period Number | 7 |
| Group | Actinides |
Biological role
Plutonium has no known biological role. It is extremely toxic due to its radioactivity.
Natural abundance
The greatest source of plutonium is the irradiation of uranium in nuclear reactors. This produces the isotope plutonium-239, which has a half-life of 24,400 years.
Plutonium metal is made by reducing plutonium tetrafluoride with calcium.