Plutonium (Pu)
"The Atomic Dynamo! This powerhouse element wields immense nuclear energy, capable of fueling spaceships for decades or unleashing unimaginable destructive force."
A memorable persona to anchor Pu in your mind.
19.816
Grams per cm³
640
Celsius (°C)
243
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The silent, unyielding power source keeping distant space probes like Voyager and Curiosity alive and kicking across our solar system.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1940
Discovered By
Glenn Seaborg and colleagues
Origin of Name
"Plutonium, is named after the then planet Pluto, following from the two previous elements uranium and neptunium."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
[244] u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3228°C
Electron Configuration
[Rn] 5f67s2
1st Ionization Energy
6.06 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A silvery-white metal that quickly dulls as it reacts with air."
Did You Know?
Plutonium wasn't *found* on Earth; it was first *made* in a lab in 1940 by scientists, making it one of the first human-synthesized elements!
Its name comes from the dwarf planet Pluto, continuing the tradition of naming elements after celestial bodies, just like Uranium (Uranus) and Neptunium (Neptune).
Hold it (carefully, hypothetically)! Plutonium is so radioactive that a chunk of it will literally feel warm to the touch due to the heat generated by its constantly decaying atoms!
Beyond its destructive reputation, plutonium is a superstar fuel for space exploration! Its steady decay powers Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) that keep probes like Voyager and Curiosity alive on their decades-long journeys.