Definition

Noun 1. A chemical element: A solid, silvery-gray, radioactive, transuranic element. Its atoms are fissile, meaning they can be split when bombarded with neutrons. It is found in minute quantities in uranium ores but is typically produced artificially in nuclear reactors. Thirteen isotopes are known, with plutonium-239 being the most significant.

Usage

• As a chemical symbol: is the standard chemical symbol for this element on the periodic table.
  • The sample was contaminated with traces of Pu.
• Referring to the element itself: Used to discuss the material's properties, production, or applications.
  • The reactor produces plutonium as a byproduct.
  • Handling pu requires extreme safety precautions due to its radioactivity.

Advanced Usage

• In technical contexts: The abbreviation "Pu" is commonly used in scientific literature, technical reports, and nuclear engineering to refer concisely to plutonium.
  • The study measured the Pu isotopic ratio in the soil samples.

Variants and Related Words

• Plutonium (n): The full, formal name of the element. This is the more common term in general and scientific use.
  • Plutonium-239 has a half-life of over 24,000 years.

Synonyms

• Element 94: A synonym based on its atomic number (the number of protons in its nucleus).

Notes on Meaning

The term "pu" is almost exclusively the chemical symbol for the element plutonium. It is not a standalone word with other common meanings in general English. Its use outside of scientific, technical, or military contexts related to nuclear science is very rare.

Noun

1. a solid silvery grey radioactive transuranic element whose atoms can be split when bombarded with neutrons; found in minute quantities in uranium ores but is usually synthesized in nuclear reactors; 13 isotopes are known with the most important being plutonium 239