Title: What Is Plutonium? Characteristics of This Nuclear Fuel
Headings: What Is Plutonium?
What Is Plutonium?
What Is Plutonium Used For?
Role of Plutonium in Nuclear Reactors
Where Is Plutonium Found on Earth?
How Many Neutrons Does Plutonium Have?
Management of Recovered Plutonium in Nuclear Reactors
Health Hazard
Environmental Effects
References

Content: Plutonium has 16 isotopes, all of them radioactive . The element is a silver metal and has 5 different crystalline structures. Chemically plutonium is a very active material. It can form compounds with all non-metallic elements, except noble gases. The metal dissolves in acids and reacts with water, although moderately compared to acids. Although traces can be found in nature, all plutonium isotopes are of artificial origin. What Is Plutonium Used For? The most important uses of plutonium depend on two of its properties. First, the emitted radiation generates a lot of heat, thermal energy . In fact, plutonium emits so much heat that the metal feels warm when touched.