What is the Difference Between Uranium and Plutonium?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The primary difference between uranium and plutonium lies in their atomic number and the isotopes they contain. Uranium has 92 protons, while plutonium has 94 protons. Uranium has two main isotopes: uranium-235 and uranium-238, with uranium-235 being fissionable. Plutonium, on the other hand, is an artificially produced element and does not occur naturally. When plutonium is produced in a reactor, the first isotope obtained is plutonium-239, which comes from uranium-238.
Here are some key differences between uranium and plutonium:
- Isotopes: Uranium has two main isotopes: uranium-235 and uranium-238. Plutonium-239 is the primary isotope used in nuclear weapons and reactors.
- Fissionability: Uranium-235 is fissionable, meaning it can be used to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. Plutonium-239 is also fissionable and is considered more suitable for nuclear weapons due to its easier fals
Comparative Table: Uranium vs Plutonium
Here is a table summarizing the differences between uranium and plutonium:
Property | Uranium | Plutonium |
---|---|---|
Symbol | U | Pu |
Atomic Number | 92 | 94 |
Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f^3 6d^1 7s^2 | [Rn] 5f^6 7s^2 |
F electrons | 3 | 6 |
Isotope Stability | Higher life times | Lower life times |
Natural Occurrence | Found naturally in mines as ores | Synthetic, virtually none exists naturally |
Nuclear Fissile Isotope | U-235 for nuclear weapons, U-238 for nuclear power | Pu-239 for nuclear weapons and power generation |
Boiling Point | Not provided | 3228°C |
Melting Point | Not provided | 639.4°C |
Uranium and plutonium are both radioactive elements in the actinide series of the periodic table. Uranium has an atomic number of 92 and plutonium has an atomic number of 94. Uranium occurs naturally in mines as ores, while plutonium is synthetic and virtually none exists naturally. Plutonium can be obtained artificially by processing uranium. The primary isotope used for nuclear weapons is U-235 for uranium, while Pu-239 is used for plutonium.
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- Nuclear Fusion vs Fission
- Platinum vs Palladium
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- Atomic vs Nuclear Bomb
- Fission vs Fusion
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- Uranium 234 235 vs 238
- Gold vs Platinum
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