Plutonium has a bright silvery appearance, much like nickel, but oxidizes very quickly to a dull grey, yellow and olive green. At room temperature plutonium is in its α (alpha) form. This, the most common structural form of the element (allotrope), is about as hard and brittle as grey cast iron unless it is alloyed with other metals to make it soft and ductile. It is not a good conductor of heat or electricity and has a low melting point (640 °C) and high boiling point (3,228 °C).

1940 by Glenn T. Seaborg, Arthur Wahl, Joseph W. Kennedy and Edwin McMillan, USA.

DISCOVERY

From the name Pluto, the planet and the classical god of the underworld.

ETYMOLOGY

Plutonium

Element

Pu

Symbol

94

94 Atomic Number

Atomic Number

Actinide

Classification

7440-07-5

CAS Number

Silver

Elemental Colour

-

Refractive Index

0.210

0.210 Poisson Ratio

Poisson Ratio

12.148 cm³

Molar Volume

-

Brinell Hardness

-

Mohs Hardness

-

Vickers Hardness

2,260 m/s, Mach 6.588'9

2,260 m/s

Speed of Sound

-

Bulk Modulus

43.00G Pa, 424.377'0k Atm

424.377'0k Atm

Shear Modulus

96.00G Pa, 947.446'3k Atm

947.446'3k Atm

Young Modulus

Allotropes

913.15 K, 640.00 °C

640.00 °C

Melting Point

3,503.15 K, 3,230.00 °C

3,230.00 °C

Boiling Point

-

Automatic Ignition

-

Flashpoint

-

Critical Temperature

-

Critical Pressure

6.000'000 W/(m K)

Thermal Conductivity

-

Thermal Expansion

-

Specific Heat

-

Heat Fusion

325.000 kJ/mol

Heat Vaporisation

-

Heat Combustion

-

Curie Point

-

Neel Point

-

Adiabatic Index

Solid

Phase

Conductor

Electrical Type

670.00k S/m

Conductivity

1.50μ Ω.m

Resistivity

-

Superconducting Point

-

Magnetic Type

0.000'000'031'4

Mass Susceptibility

0.000'000'007'662'00

Molar Susceptibility

0.000'622'200'00

Volume Susceptibility

Material Composition

-

Universe

-

Meteorites

-

Sun

-

Earth Crust

-

Oceans

-

Humans

240.722'556'2

Atomic Weight

151 pm

Atomic Radius

172 pm

Covalent Radius Single Bond

135 pm

Covalent Radius Double Bond

-

Covalent Radius Triple Bond

243 pm

Van der Waals Radius

[Rn]7s²5f⁶

Electron Configuration

Monoclinic, Primitive

Crystal Structure

19.816'00 g/cm³

Density as Solid

16.630'00 g/cm³

Density as Liquid

-

Density as Gas

P12₁/m1

Space Group Name

11

11 Space Group Number

Space Group Number

π/2, 2 & π/2

Lattice Angles

618.3, 482.2 & 1096.3 pm

Lattice Constants

7.93 x 10⁷ years

Half Life

1.14 x 10⁸ years

Lifetime

5f⁶ = 5, 3, +2, +1/2

Quantum Numbers

-

Neutron Cross Section

-

Neutron Mass Absorption

Stable Isotopes

NONE

Unstable Isotopes

Isotopes Overview

Isotope	Stability	Symbol	Type	Protons		Neutrons		Spin	Parity	Mass		Abundance		Mass Measure	Mass Excess		Binding Energy		Dipole Moment		Quadrupole Moment		Halflife in Years		Halflife in Seconds		A01 Decay Probability		A01 Decay Mode	A01 Decay Energy		A01 Decay Daughter	A01 Decay Link	A02 Decay Mode	A02 Decay Energy		A02 Decay Daughter	A02 Decay Link	A03 Decay Probability		A03 Decay Mode	A03 Decay Energy		A03 Decay Daughter	A03 Decay Link	A04 Decay Probability		A04 Decay Mode	A04 Decay Energy		Y01 Decay Product Yield		Y01 Decay Product Nuclide	Y02 Decay Product Yield		Y02 Decay Product Nuclide	Y03 Decay Product Yield		Y03 Decay Product Nuclide	Y04 Decay Product Yield		Y04 Decay Product Nuclide	Y05 Decay Product Yield		Y05 Decay Product Nuclide	Y06 Decay Product Yield		Y06 Decay Product Nuclide	Y07 Decay Product Yield		Y07 Decay Product Nuclide	Y08 Decay Product Yield		Y08 Decay Product Nuclide	Y09 Decay Product Yield		Y09 Decay Product Nuclide	Y10 Decay Product Yield		Y10 Decay Product Nuclide	Y11 Decay Product Yield		Y11 Decay Product Nuclide	Y12 Decay Product Yield		Y12 Decay Product Nuclide
Isotope_094_pu_228_u	Unstable	²²⁸Pu	Boson	94	p	134	n	0	1	228.038'742'328'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	63.202'000'000'0	MeV	7.514'000'000'0	MeV	-		-		3.17E-10	year	10.000	milli-seconds ( x⁻³ )	100.000'000	%	α	7,949.600	keV	²²⁴U	²²⁸Pu > [ 100 % , α , 7,949.6 keV ] > ²²⁴U	β+	1,365.000	keV	²²⁸Np	²²⁸Pu > [ , β+ , 1,365.0 keV ] > ²²⁸Np													0.102'404	%	²⁰⁸Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	²⁰⁰Hg
Isotope_094_pu_229_u	Unstable	²²⁹Pu	Fermion	94	p	135	n	3/2	1	229.040'150'212'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	36.088'247'000'0	MeV	7.590'489'000'0	MeV	-		-		3.80E-6	year	120.000	seconds ( x⁰ )	100.000'000	%	α	7,597.500	keV	²²⁵U	²²⁹Pu > [ 100 % , α , 7,597.5 keV ] > ²²⁵U																		100.480'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl
Isotope_094_pu_230_u	Unstable	²³⁰Pu	Boson	94	p	136	n	0	1	230.039'649'886'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	37.399'683'000'0	MeV	7.586'862'000'0	MeV	-		-		3.18E-6	year	100.200	seconds ( x⁰ )	?	%	α	7,179.890	keV	²²⁶U	²³⁰Pu > [ ? % , α , 7,179.89 keV ] > ²²⁶U	β+	675.300	keV	²³⁰Np	²³⁰Pu > [ , β+ , 675.3 keV ] > ²³⁰Np													?	%	²⁰⁵Tl	?	%	²⁰⁸Pb	?	%	²⁰⁶Pb
Isotope_094_pu_231_u	Unstable	²³¹Pu	Fermion	94	p	137	n	3/2	1	231.041'101'107'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	36.933'632'000'0	MeV	7.590'994'000'0	MeV	-		-		1.65E-5	year	520.020	seconds ( x⁰ )	87.000'000	%	β+	1,638.200	keV	²³¹Np	²³¹Pu > [ 87 % , β+ , 1,638.2 keV ] > ²³¹Np	α	6,838.500	keV	²²⁷U	²³¹Pu > [ , α , 6,838.5 keV ] > ²²⁷U													100.243'938	%	²⁰⁷Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_232_u	Unstable	²³²Pu	Boson	94	p	138	n	0	1	232.041'187'097'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	38.285'435'000'0	MeV	7.587'222'000'0	MeV	-		-		6.40E-5	year	2.020	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	89.000'000	%	ϵ	1,005.000	keV	²³²Np	²³²Pu > [ 89 % , ϵ , 1,005.0 keV ] > ²³²Np	α	6,715.900	keV	²²⁸U	²³²Pu > [ , α , 6,715.9 keV ] > ²²⁸U													100.006'433	%	²⁰⁸Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	²⁰⁰Hg
Isotope_094_pu_233_u	Unstable	²³³Pu	Fermion	94	p	139	n	5/2	1	233.042'997'375'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	38.365'534'000'0	MeV	7.588'963'000'0	MeV	-		-		3.96E-5	year	1.250	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β+	1,080.000	keV	²³³Np	²³³Pu > [ 100 % , β+ , 1,080.0 keV ] > ²³³Np	α	6,416.300	keV	²²⁹U	²³³Pu > [ , α , 6,416.3 keV ] > ²²⁹U													100.134'278	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁷Pb
Isotope_094_pu_234_u	Unstable	²³⁴Pu	Boson	94	p	140	n	0	1	234.043'317'076'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	40.051'797'000'0	MeV	7.584'7.584'7.584'7.584	MeV	-		-		1.69E-5	year	533.400	seconds ( x⁰ )	94.000'000	%	ϵ	393.100	keV	²³⁴Np	²³⁴Pu > [ 94 % , ϵ , 393.1 keV ] > ²³⁴Np	α	6,309.980	keV	²³⁰U	²³⁴Pu > [ , α , 6,309.98 keV ] > ²³⁰U													100.041'517	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'002	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_235_u	Unstable	²³⁵Pu	Fermion	94	p	141	n	5/2	1	235.045'286'050'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	40.349'597'000'0	MeV	7.584'607'000'0	MeV	-		-		4.82E-5	year	1.520	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β+	116.800	keV	²³⁵Np	²³⁵Pu > [ 100 % , β+ , 116.8 keV ] > ²³⁵Np	α	5,951.400	keV	²³¹U	²³⁵Pu > [ , α , 5,951.4 keV ] > ²³¹U													100.281'729	%	²⁰⁷Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	¹⁸⁰Hf
Isotope_094_pu_236_u	Unstable	²³⁶Pu	Boson	94	p	142	n	0	1	236.046'057'964'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	42.183'684'000'0	MeV	7.578'873'000'0	MeV	-		-		2.86E+0	years	90.252	mega-seconds ( x⁶ )	100.000'000	%	α	5,867.070	keV	²³²U	²³⁶Pu > [ 100 % , α , 5,867.07 keV ] > ²³²U	SF	?	keV	V	²³⁶Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V	0.000'000	%	²⁸Mg	?	keV	²⁰⁸Pb	²³⁶Pu > [ 0.000000000002 % , ²⁸Mg , ? keV ] > ²⁰⁸Pb	?	%	2β+	-1,588.010	keV	100.004'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	²⁰⁰Hg	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_237_u	Unstable	²³⁷Pu	Fermion	94	p	143	n	7/2	-1	237.048'409'658'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	42.902'718'000'0	MeV	7.577'913'000'0	MeV	-		-		1.24E-1	year	3.910	mega-seconds ( x⁶ )	100.000'000	%	ϵ	200.030	keV	²³⁷Np	²³⁷Pu > [ 100 % , ϵ , 200.03 keV ] > ²³⁷Np	α	5,748.430	keV	²³³U	²³⁷Pu > [ , α , 5,748.43 keV ] > ²³³U													100.017'001	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁷Pb
Isotope_094_pu_238_u	Unstable	²³⁸Pu	Boson	94	p	144	n	0	1	238.049'559'894'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	45.093'307'000'0	MeV	7.570'752'000'0	MeV	-		-		8.78E+1	years	2.772	giga-seconds ( x⁹ )	100.000'000	%	α	5,593.200	keV	²³⁴U	²³⁸Pu > [ 100 % , α , 5,593.2 keV ] > ²³⁴U	SF	?	keV	V	²³⁸Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V	0.000'000	%	³²Si	?	keV	²⁰⁶Hg	²³⁸Pu > [ 0.000000000000014 % , ³²Si , ? keV ] > ²⁰⁶Hg	0.000'000	%		?	keV	100.044'159	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'002	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_239_u	Unstable	²³⁹Pu	Fermion	94	p	145	n	1/2	1	239.052'163'381'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	46.164'745'000'0	MeV	7.568'354'000'0	MeV	0.203'000'000'0	nm	-		2.41E+4	years	761.327	giga-seconds ( x⁹ )	100.000'000	%	α	5,244.510	keV	²³⁵U	²³⁹Pu > [ 100 % , α , 5,244.51 keV ] > ²³⁵U	SF	?	keV	V	²³⁹Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V													100.276'314	%	²⁰⁷Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'000	%	¹⁶⁰Dy	0.000'000	%	¹⁴⁰Ce	?	%	¹⁷²Yb	?	%	¹⁷⁶Hf	?	%	¹⁵²Sm	?	%	¹⁸⁰Hf	?	%	¹⁵⁶Gd	?	%	¹⁶⁸Er	?	%	¹⁶⁴Dy
Isotope_094_pu_240_u	Unstable	²⁴⁰Pu	Boson	94	p	146	n	0	1	240.053'813'545'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	48.589'877'000'0	MeV	7.560'311'000'0	MeV	-		-		6.57E+3	years	207.242	giga-seconds ( x⁹ )	100.000'000	%	α	5,255.750	keV	²³⁶U	²⁴⁰Pu > [ 100 % , α , 5,255.75 keV ] > ²³⁶U	SF	?	keV	V	²⁴⁰Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V	0.000'000	%	³⁴Si	?	keV	²⁰⁶Hg	²⁴⁰Pu > [ 0.00000000000013 % , ³⁴Si , ? keV ] > ²⁰⁶Hg						100.004'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	²⁰⁰Hg	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_241_u	Unstable	²⁴¹Pu	Fermion	94	p	147	n	5/2	1	241.056'851'456'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	50.126'995'000'0	MeV	7.556'036'000'0	MeV	-0.683'000'000'0	nm	-		1.44E+1	years	453.104	mega-seconds ( x⁶ )	100.000'000	%	β-	20.783	keV	²⁴¹Am	²⁴¹Pu > [ 100 % , β- , 20.783 keV ] > ²⁴¹Am	α	5,140.000	keV	²³⁷U	²⁴¹Pu > [ , α , 5,140.0 keV ] > ²³⁷U	0.000'000	%	SF	?	keV	V	²⁴¹Pu > [ 0.000000000000024 % , SF , ? keV ] > V						100.015'250	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁷Pb
Isotope_094_pu_242_u	Unstable	²⁴²Pu	Boson	94	p	148	n	0	1	242.058'742'611'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	52.956'791'000'0	MeV	7.546'432'000'0	MeV	-		5.600'000'000'0	b	3.74E+5	years	11.809	tera-seconds ( x¹² )	100.000'000	%	α	4,984.530	keV	²³⁸U	²⁴²Pu > [ 100 % , α , 4,984.53 keV ] > ²³⁸U	SF	?	keV	V	²⁴²Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V													100.044'159	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'002	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_243_u	Unstable	²⁴³Pu	Fermion	94	p	149	n	7/2	1	243.062'003'092'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	54.718'390'000'0	MeV	7.541'321'000'0	MeV	-		-		5.65E-4	year	17.840	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β-	579.400	keV	²⁴³Am	²⁴³Pu > [ 100 % , β- , 579.4 keV ] > ²⁴³Am																		100.276'314	%	²⁰⁷Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'000	%	¹⁶⁰Dy	0.000'000	%	¹⁴⁰Ce	?	%	¹⁷²Yb	?	%	¹⁷⁶Hf	?	%	¹⁵²Sm	?	%	¹⁸⁰Hf	?	%	¹⁵⁶Gd	?	%	¹⁶⁸Er	?	%	¹⁶⁴Dy
Isotope_094_pu_244_u	Unstable	²⁴⁴Pu	Boson	94	p	150	n	0	1	244.064'203'907'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	57.755'509'000'0	MeV	7.531'004'000'0	MeV	-		-		7.93E+7	years	2.503	peta-seconds ( x¹⁵ )	100.000'000	%	α	4,665.540	keV	²⁴⁰U	²⁴⁴Pu > [ 100 % , α , 4,665.54 keV ] > ²⁴⁰U	SF	?	keV	V	²⁴⁴Pu > [ , SF , ? keV ] > V	0.000'000	%	2β-	1,351.900	keV	²⁴⁴Cm	²⁴⁴Pu > [ 0.0000000073 % , 2β- , 1,351.9 keV ] > ²⁴⁴Cm						100.004'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	?	%	²⁰⁰Hg	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_245_u	Unstable	²⁴⁵Pu	Fermion	94	p	151	n	9/2	-1	245.067'747'154'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	59.805'555'000'0	MeV	7.524'817'000'0	MeV	-		-		1.20E-3	year	37.800	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β-	1,206.300	keV	²⁴⁵Am	²⁴⁵Pu > [ 100 % , β- , 1,206.3 keV ] > ²⁴⁵Am																		100.015'250	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁷Pb
Isotope_094_pu_246_u	Unstable	²⁴⁶Pu	Boson	94	p	152	n	0	1	246.070'204'627'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	63.106'068'000'0	MeV	7.513'576'000'0	MeV	-		-		1.24E-3	year	39.024	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β-	400.500	keV	²⁴⁶Am	²⁴⁶Pu > [ 100 % , β- , 400.5 keV ] > ²⁴⁶Am																		100.044'159	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'002	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁸Pb
Isotope_094_pu_247_u	Unstable	²⁴⁷Pu	Fermion	94	p	153	n	1/2	1	247.074'070'000'0	u	~ 0	%	~ 0	65.395'190'000'0	MeV	7.506'538'000'0	MeV	-		-		6.21E-3	year	196.042	kilo-seconds ( x³ )	100.000'000	%	β-	1,842.000	keV	²⁴⁷Am	²⁴⁷Pu > [ 100 % , β- , 1,842.0 keV ] > ²⁴⁷Am																		100.276'314	%	²⁰⁷Pb	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁵Tl	0.000'000	%	²⁰⁶Pb	0.000'000	%	¹⁶⁰Dy	0.000'000	%	¹⁴⁰Ce	?	%	¹⁷²Yb	?	%	¹⁷⁶Hf	?	%	¹⁵²Sm	?	%	¹⁸⁰Hf	?	%	¹⁵⁶Gd	?	%	¹⁶⁸Er	?	%	¹⁶⁴Dy

94 – Plutonium, Pu

94 – Plutonium, Pu

94 – Plutonium, Pu

94 – Plutonium, Pu

94 – Plutonium, Pu

Spectrograph

Elemental Tile

Plutonium 238

Spectrograph

Elemental Tile

Plutonium 238

Spectrograph

Elemental Tile

Plutonium 238

Spectrograph

Elemental Tile

Plutonium 238

Spectrograph

Elemental Tile

Plutonium 238