Isotopes of plutonium

Plutonium (Pu) has several isotopes, with the most notable being: 1. **Plutonium-238 (Pu-238)**: This isotope has a half-life of about 87.7 years and is used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for powering spacecraft.

Plutonium-238 (Pu-238) is an isotope of plutonium, which is a heavy and radioactive metallic element. It has a half-life of about 87.7 years, making it relatively short-lived compared to some other isotopes of plutonium. Pu-238 is primarily used as a heat source in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) — devices that convert the heat released by the decay of radioactive material into electrical energy.

Plutonium-239 (Pu-239) is a man-made isotope of plutonium, which is a radioactive element. It is notable for its use in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Here are some key points about Pu-239: 1. **Isotope**: Plutonium has several isotopes, and Pu-239 is one of the most significant due to its properties.

Plutonium-240 (^240Pu) is a specific isotope of plutonium, which is a radioactive actinide metal. It is one of several isotopes of plutonium, with others including plutonium-239 (^239Pu), plutonium-241 (^241Pu), and plutonium-242 (^242Pu).

Plutonium-241 (Pu-241) is an isotope of plutonium, a heavy actinide metal. It is significant in the field of nuclear chemistry and nuclear engineering for several reasons: 1. **Nuclear Properties**: Plutonium-241 has a half-life of approximately 14.1 years. It is radioactive and undergoes beta decay, transforming into neptunium-241 (Np-241). This decay process emits beta particles and gamma radiation.

Plutonium-242 is an isotope of plutonium, which is a radioactive metallic element with the atomic number 94. It is one of the several isotopes of plutonium, and it has a relatively long half-life of about 376,000 years. This makes it one of the more stable isotopes of plutonium, though it is still radioactive.

Plutonium-244 (Pu-244) is an isotope of plutonium, a radioactive element with the atomic number 94. Plutonium itself is a heavy actinide metal that is primarily used as a fuel in nuclear reactors and in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.