The Chemical Complexities of Plutonium

By Clark, David L.

Book Id: WPLBN0000126329
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 1.2 MB
Reproduction Date: 2008

Title:	The Chemical Complexities of Plutonium
Author:	Clark, David L.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Legislation., Government Printing Office (U.S.)
Collections:	Government Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago Clark, D. L. (n.d.). The Chemical Complexities of Plutonium. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Excerpt
Excerpt: Few people have ever seen plutonium, and far fewer have actually handled or manipulated it. Yet this manmade element has arguably altered the course of civilization as much as copper, bronze, iron, or steel. Within five years of its synthesis, the primary use of plutonium was for the release of nuclear energy in weapons of mass destruction, and it seemed that the new element might lead the human race to the brink of self-annihilation. But instead, plutonium has become a stabilizing agent in global politics, forcing the human race to govern itself without resorting to nuclear war. Never before has a simple chemical element had such a profound impact on the consciousness of mankind. Plutonium has had a similarly humbling impact in the more circumscribed arena of science. Incredibly, it displays physicochemical behaviors that are among the most complex of any element in the periodic table. The pure element exhibits seven distinct crystal phases, is highly reactive, and is known to form compounds, complexes, or alloys with virtually every other element. Molten plutonium is highly corrosive and will slowly react with its container, causing difficulties for handling. When elemental plutonium reacts to give up its valence electrons, it can form a wide variety of positively charged ions with the ability to form up to twelve chemical bonds to other ions or molecules in solution. The element can exhibit five oxidation states, and under certain chemical conditions, four different oxidation states can be present in appreciable amounts simultaneously! No other element displays such a complex chemistry.

Table of Contents
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