Discovery
Discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg, Arthur Wahl, Joseph W. Kennedy, and Edwin McMillan in 1940.
Common Uses
-
Fuel in nuclear reactors and weapons
-
Power source in space missions (e.g., RTGs)
-
Research in nuclear science
Interesting Facts
-
Named after the dwarf planet Pluto.
-
Plutonium-239 is highly fissile and critical for nuclear weapons.
-
Emits heat due to radioactive decay, useful in space applications.
Back to Periodic Table