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94 · Pu

Plutonium

Produced at Berkeley in 1940–1941. Open publication waits for the end of wartime secrecy.

Identity

Atomic number
94
Symbol
Pu
Canonical name
Plutonium
Category
actinide
Group
unassigned
Period
7
Block
f

Series set apart from the main table. Whether group 3 is lanthanum or lutetium (actinium or lawrencium) is still discussed, so the group is left empty.

Properties

These quantities come from the Periodic Table JSON compilation. They have not yet been checked, one by one, against CIAAW atomic weights or NIST measurements. A value marked estimated is not a measurement.

Atomic mass
[244] No standard atomic weight. The number shown is the conventional mass number used in tables, not a measured mass in u.
Electron configuration
[Rn] 5f6 7s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 24, 8, 2
Standard state
solid
Density
19.816 g/cm³
Melting point
912.5 K
Boiling point
3,505 K
Electronegativity
1.28 Pauling
First ionization energy
584.7 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
-48.33 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

This summary is not an inventory of every isotope.

Conventional mass number: 244

History

Plutonium

Synthesis · confirmed · about 1940

The Berkeley team produces plutonium in 1940–1941. Publication is delayed by wartime secrecy.

Target
238U
Projectile
deutons
Evidence
Open publication follows the end of wartime secrecy.

See the element timeline

Etymology

Theme
celestial body
Language
grec
Root
Plouton
Meaning
Pluto

Scientists

Places and institutions

  • Berkeley — historical setting : United States — present country : United States

See also

Sources