plutonium
Fissile actinide metal
Plutonium is a radioactive metallic element, atomic number 94, used primarily in nuclear weapons and as fuel for nuclear reactors.
It does not occur naturally in significant amounts and is produced in reactors from uranium.
Plutonium is extremely toxic and remains hazardous for thousands of years.
Named after the planet Pluto, following the pattern of uranium (Uranus) and neptunium (Neptune).
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- isotopesAtomic number twins
transuranic · actinides · neutron · contamination · ionizing · radionuclide · gamma · beta
Munition's explosive section
- implosionViolent collapse inward
- Fat ManImplosion-type nuclear device
- TrinityGodhead as three persons
- fissileAble to split apart
bomb · missile · ICBM · detonator · proliferation · arsenal · deterrent · megaton
Capable of causing harm
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- dangerousApt to cause harm
hazardous · ingestion · inhalation · bioaccumulation · cleanup · disposal · storage · safety
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- HanfordNuclear weapons complex
- Los AlamosNuclear research town
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- TrinityGodhead as three persons
Nagasaki · arms race · nonproliferation · IAEA · nuclear age · discovery · synthesis · classified
Energy source material
- breederOne who raises stock
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- thoriumActinide, atomic number ninety
pellet · rod · core · reprocessing · coolant · power generation · electricity · transmutation
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
isotopes · transuranic · actinides · neutron · contamination · ionizing · radionuclide · gamma · beta · dosimeter
warhead
Munition's explosive section
fissile · bomb · missile · ICBM · detonator · proliferation · arsenal · deterrent · megaton · thermonuclear
toxic
Capable of causing harm
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- lethalCausing or capable of death
dangerous · hazardous · ingestion · inhalation · bioaccumulation · cleanup · disposal · storage · safety · exposure
Manhattan Project
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- HanfordNuclear weapons complex
- Los AlamosNuclear research town
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
Trinity · Nagasaki · arms race · nonproliferation · IAEA · nuclear age · discovery · synthesis · classified · secrecy
fuel
Energy source material
thorium · pellet · rod · core · reprocessing · coolant · power generation · electricity · transmutation · blanket
- Nuclearnuclear reactor, atomic bomb, nuclear energy, atomic bombs, uranium
- Synthetic Elementstechnetium, neptunium, americium, curium, berkelium
- carcinogensasbestos, benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, tobacco smoke
- hazardous chemicalsacid, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid
- nuclear securitynon-proliferation, nonproliferation, weapons inspectors, nuclear facility, nuclear site
- pollutantspollutants, pollutant, contaminant, contaminants, toxin
- plutonium bombAtomic weapon using heavy element
- weapons-grade plutoniumHighly enriched fissile element