Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
Plutonium (Pu) is a silver-grey-colored artificial element that belongs to the actinide group, named after Pluto. Plutonium is an element not extracted from nature, but created by humans; it is, in other words, the by-product of nuclear fission of uranium-238 in the nuclear reactor. Plutonium is a transuranium element that has high reactive nature. Its resistivity increases in the room temperature and goes on increasing with the falling temperature. Under certain conditions, Plutonium pyrophoricity will glow like an ember.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Plutonium, Uranium, Elements, Reactivity, Temperature, Fission, Allotropes, Nuclear
Profile of Plutonium
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Go through the table below to understand the profile of Plutonium:
| Plutonium(Pu) | |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 94 |
| Atomic mass | 224 g mol-1 |
| Melting point | 640o C |
| Boiling point | 3228o C |
| Major isotopes | 238 Pu, 239 Pu, 240 Pu |
| Number of allotropes | 6 |
| Density at 20o C | 11.71 g.cm-3 |
| Made from | Uranium |
| Conductivity (heat and electricity) | Very low |
| Oxidation rate | Very high |
Read More:
| Topics Related to Plutonium | ||
|---|---|---|
| Polonium | Positron | Carbon dating |
| Radioactivity | Cadmium | Nucleon |
Properties of Plutonium
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
- Despite being a member of the actinide group, certain features make Plutonium a rare element.
- The number of allotropes (crystal structure) is one of the properties that make Plutonium unique among other elements of the actinide group. Plutonium is the only element of the group that has six allotropes.
- The allotropes of Plutonium have a close energy level that makes them respond quickly to temperature and pressure.
- Compared to other transuranium, Plutonium has a very low melting point.
- At freezing point, Plutonium expands, becoming solid in feature.
- The surface tension of liquid Plutonium is very high.
- The thermal expansion coefficient of the allotropes of Plutonium is very high.
- The response of Plutonium to oxygen and hydrogen is very high.
- An unalloyed Plutonium will have a density up to 19.86 g/cm. cube
- The allotropes of Plutonium vary in mechanical nature, which is not usual in the allotropes of an element.
- Plutonium appears in five different valences when it is in a solution.
- Plutonium has low-symmetric allotropes that may have different structures.
Plutonium and Nuclear Energy
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Nuclear energy is gaining much importance in the fast-growing countries for many reasons. The high volume of energy circulated from nuclear fission and the pure nature of the fuel makes nuclear power plants a reliable option to many conventional sources of energy.
Two isotopes of Plutonium, namely Plutonium 239 and Plutonium 241, have a nucleus that can blast with high voltage, producing energy and gamma rays. This makes Plutonium an inevitable source of nuclear energy. It is said that nearly 6000 watts of heat can be generated from 20 kg of the isotope when utilized in an electricity generator like radioscopic thermoelectric generators. The future of nuclear fuel is thus foreseen in isotopes of Plutonium.
Things to Remember
- Plutonium (Pu) is a silver-grey-colored artificial element that belongs to the actinide group, named after Pluto. It is a transuranium element that has high reactive nature.
- The resistivity of plutonium increases in the room temperature and goes on the increase with the falling temperature. Under certain conditions, it is noticed that Plutonium pyrophoricity will glow like an ember.
- The number of allotropes (crystal structure) is one of the properties that make Plutonium unique among other elements of the actinide group. Plutonium is the only element of the group that has six allotropes.
- Plutonium isotopes are used as a source of nuclear energy due to their high fission rate. It is also seen in use as a Neutron energy detector. Unfortunately, Plutonium is used as a source to create a nuclear weapon.
- Plutonium 239 and Plutonium 241(isotopes of plutonium) have a nucleus that can blast with high voltage, producing energy and gamma rays. This makes Plutonium an inevitable source of nuclear energy. It is said that nearly 6000 watts of heat can be generated from 20 kg of the isotope.
- Plutonium was used by the USA as a nuclear weapon during World War II. They found Plutonium as a way to reduce the size of the weapon they used; at the same time, Plutonium caused more destruction as a nuclear weapon than any other demon can cause.
Read More:
Sample Questions
Ques. What are the unique properties of Plutonium? (3 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium, rather than being a man-made element, is well known for some rare features. The unique properties of plutonium include:
- The number of allotropes (crystal structure) is one of the properties that make Plutonium unique among other elements of the actinide group. Plutonium is the only element of the group that has six allotropes.
- The allotropes of Plutonium have a close energy level that makes them respond quickly to temperature and pressure.
- Compared to other transuranium, Plutonium has a very low melting point.
- At freezing point, Plutonium expands, becoming solid in feature.
- The surface tension of liquid Plutonium is very high.
Ques. Why are Plutonium isotopes used as a nuclear weapon? (2 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium was invented by the USA as a nuclear weapon during World War II. They found Plutonium as a way to reduce the size of the weapon they used; at the same time, Plutonium caused more destruction as a nuclear weapon than any other demon can cause. Plutonium isotopes, like Plutonium-238, have a huge life span. Moreover, when a nuclear bomb weighing 6 kg is exploded in an area, nearly 20 km diameter is affected by this.
Ques. State some properties of allotropes of Plutonium. (3 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium has the most number of allotropes (6 allotropes) when we consider other elements. Below are some of the properties of Plutonium allotropes:
- Plutonium has low-symmetric allotropes that may have different structures.
- The allotropes of Plutonium vary in mechanical nature, which is not usual in the allotropes of an element.
- The allotropes of Plutonium have a close energy level that makes them respond quickly to temperature and pressure.
Ques. How is Plutonium made? (2 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium is a man-made element that is used as a fuel in nuclear power plants. It is made from uranium isotope. It is a by-product of the nuclear fission of uranium-238 in the nuclear reactor. The plutonium isotopes transform when they decay, becoming different isotopes of plutonium. With the help of a lightweight reactor, the neutrons of uranium are interacted for nuclear fission that results in the production of Plutonium.
Ques. Why is Plutonium created by humans? Explain. (3 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium is created by humans both as a fuel and as a weapon.
Plutonium as a fuel: Plutonium is a good source of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is gaining importance in fast-growing countries for many reasons. The high volume of energy circulated from nuclear fission and the pure nature of the fuel makes nuclear power plants a reliable option to many conventional sources of energy.
Plutonium as a weapon: The invention of plutonium itself was for a nuclear attack during World War II. The ability of the isotopes to produce huge energy was invented for a deadly cause. It was used by the USA as a nuclear weapon during World War II. They found Plutonium as a way to reduce the size of the weapon they used. But the refabrication of Plutonium was almost impossible for them due to the lack of expert scientists to do so, which in turn, was lucky to the rest of the world.
Ques. Explain the reactive and conductive nature of Plutonium. (2 Marks)
Ans. Plutonium is an element that has a high reactive nature. It easily reacts with hydrogen and oxygen. This makes Plutonium easily inflammable. It is noticed that the boiling point of Plutonium is 3228º C and the melting point 640º C. this makes Plutonium an element that has a resistivity that goes on increasing with the reducing temperature. But unusually, Plutonium is an element that has very low conductivity of heat and electricity.
Ques. How does Plutonium differ from uranium? (3 Marks)
Ans.
| Point of Difference | Plutonium | Uranium |
|---|---|---|
| Natural/ man-made | Plutonium is a man-made element, created at a nuclear reactor | Uranium is a natural element found in nature. |
| Reactivity | Plutonium is highly reactive in nature. | Uranium is very poor reactive in nature. |
| Reaction with oxygen | Plutonium turns grey while it reacts with oxygen. | Uranium turns black while it reacts with oxygen. |
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Check-Out:
Comments