plutonium

American  

[ploo-toh-nee-uhm] / pluˈtoʊ ni əm /

noun

Chemistry, Physics.

1. a transuranic element with a fissile isotope of mass number 239 plutonium 239 that can be produced from non-fissile uranium 238, as in a breeder reactor. Pu; 94.

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plutonium British  

/ pluːˈtəʊnɪəm /

noun

1. a highly toxic metallic transuranic element. It occurs in trace amounts in uranium ores and is produced in a nuclear reactor by neutron bombardment of uranium-238. The most stable and important isotope, plutonium-239 , readily undergoes fission and is used as a reactor fuel in nuclear power stations and in nuclear weapons. Symbol: Pu; atomic no: 94; half-life of ²³⁹ Pu: 24 360 years; valency: 3, 4, 5, or 6; relative density (alpha modification): 19.84; melting pt: 640°C; boiling pt: 3230°C

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plutonium Scientific  

/ plo̅o̅-tō′nē-əm /

1. A silvery, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that has the highest atomic number of all naturally occurring elements. It is found in minute amounts in uranium ores and is produced artificially by bombarding uranium with neutrons. It is absorbed by bone marrow and is highly poisonous. Plutonium is used in nuclear weapons and as a fuel in nuclear reactors. Its longest-lived isotope is Pu 244 with a half-life of 80 million years. Atomic number 94; melting point 640°C; boiling point 3,228°C; specific gravity 19.84; valence 3, 4, 5, 6.

2. See Periodic Table

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plutonium Cultural  

1. A radioactive chemical element that is artificially derived from uranium.

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Discover More

Plutonium is used in nuclear reactors.

Etymology

Origin of plutonium

1940–45; < Greek Ploútōn Pluto + -ium

Compare meaning

How does plutonium compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• plutonium vs. uranium

Example Sentences

For reference, the Delorean time machine in Back to the Future needed 1.21 gigawatts — a figure so comically large it could only be harnessed from plutonium or a bolt of lighting.

From Salon • Jun. 12, 2026

The start-up is exploring ways to use plutonium as a temporary “bridge fuel” while the U.S. builds out domestic supply chains for traditional fuels like high-assay low-enriched uranium.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

"You can't have a rogue state with plutonium, and you can't block the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Voyager 1, like its twin Voyager 2, is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator that converts heat from decaying plutonium into electricity.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

When Oppenheimer realized he needed to design a new type of plutonium bomb, he’d called for extra help.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin