plutonium 239
A scientist carefully handles a sealed sample of plutonium 239 in a secure laboratory.
Noun: A specific, artificially produced isotope of the chemical element plutonium, characterized by its atomic mass number of 239. It is notable for its property of being highly fissile, meaning its atomic nuclei can easily be split (undergo fission) when struck by neutrons, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This isotope is a primary material used in the core of nuclear weapons and serves as a fuel in certain types of nuclear reactors.
This term is used in scientific, technical, and geopolitical contexts related to nuclear physics, weapons proliferation, and energy production. - Scientific/Technical Context: Refers to the specific nuclide with 94 protons and 145 neutrons. - Weapons Context: Denotes the weapons-grade fissile material. - Energy Context: Refers to a reactor fuel, particularly in breeder reactors.
- The laboratory confirmed the presence of plutonium 239 in the sample.
- Plutonium 239 is produced by irradiating uranium-238 in a nuclear reactor.
- The treaty aimed to limit the stockpiling of plutonium 239 for military purposes.
- Some advanced reactor designs can use plutonium 239 as a primary fuel.
- "Weapons-grade plutonium 239": Specifies material of a purity and isotopic composition suitable for use in nuclear explosives.
- "Reactor-grade plutonium 239": May contain a higher proportion of other plutonium isotopes, typically produced as a by-product in commercial power reactors.
- Plutonium (Pu): The chemical element (atomic number 94).
- Isotope: A variant of a chemical element with a different number of neutrons.
- Fissile material: A substance capable of sustaining a fission chain reaction.
- Uranium 238: The fertile material irradiated to produce plutonium 239.
- Pu-239 (The standard scientific abbreviation).
- Weapons-grade plutonium (In a specific context, though this can refer to a specific grade of Pu-239).
The term exclusively refers to the isotope with mass number 239. It is distinct from other plutonium isotopes (e.g., plutonium-238, plutonium-240), which have different nuclear properties and applications. Its significance stems entirely from its physical property of high fissionability.
A scientist carefully handles a sealed sample of plutonium 239 in a secure laboratory.
- a highly fissionable isotope of plutonium that is used in atomic weapons and as a reactor fuel; produced by irradiating uranium 238 with slow electrons