Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Pu |
| Atomic Number | 94 |
| Atomic Mass | [244] u |
| Category | Actinide |
| Period | 7 |
| Group | 3 |
| Block | f |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f⁶ 7s² |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Glenn Seaborg, Edwin McMillan, and others Year of Discovery: 1940-1941 Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Etymology
Named after Pluto, continuing the planetary naming convention (though Pluto is now a dwarf planet).
Applications and Uses
- Nuclear weapons (Pu-239)
- Nuclear power (MOX fuel)
- RTGs for spacecraft (Pu-238 powers Voyager, Curiosity)
- Pacemakers (historical, Pu-238)
Interesting Facts
- Used in the first atomic bomb tested (Trinity, 1945)
- About 1,900 metric tons exist worldwide (mostly in weapons and reactors)
- Pu-238 powers spacecraft for decades
- One of the most toxic substances known
- Named after the then-planet Pluto